Dr. Richardae “Chardae” Araojo serves as the Chief Policy and Regulatory Strategy Officer at CTAC, where she brings more than two decades of distinguished public service, scientific and regulatory expertise, and executive leadership to advance CTAC’s mission of expanding access to clinical research and building a strong, community-based U.S. research workforce. Involved in CTAC’s policy and regulatory strategy, she is deeply engaged in CTAC’s day-to-day work with sponsors and helps represent the organization across industry and the research community. She is also the President and Founder of Araojo Advisory Group, LLC, providing regulatory consulting and strategic advisory services.
Prior to her current roles, Dr. Araojo spent more than 20 years at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS). At the FDA, she served as the Associate Commissioner for Minority Health and Director of the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, leading Agency-wide initiatives to reduce health disparities, strengthen participation in research, and expand partnerships with government, academia, industry, and community organizations. She championed national initiatives to expand clinical trial access, support the public health and research workforce, and elevate patient perspectives in medical product development.
Dr. Araojo began her FDA career in 2003 in the Office of New Drugs, where she served in the Division of Psychiatry Products and the Pediatric and Maternal Health Staff. She later joined the Office of Medical Policy, advancing through a series of senior leadership roles before serving as Director of the Office of Medical Policy Initiatives. In that role, she led strategic efforts to modernize clinical trials, strengthen regulatory policy, and improve patient labeling.
Dr. Araojo retired from the U.S. Public Health Service in 2024 as a Rear Admiral and Assistant Surgeon General. Her service has been recognized with the USPHS Distinguished Service Medal, and she received the Drug Information Association’s Global Inspire Award for Excellence in Service.
Dr. Araojo earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency in Community Ambulatory Care at the University of Maryland, and received a Master of Science in Pharmacy Regulation and Policy from the University of Florida.
