As head of the executive branch, the president must appoint the top officials for all of the federal agencies. These positions are listed in the Plum Book which outlines more than 7,000 appointive positions in the government.
1 When you have a Ph.D., sign your name either as Dr. Ernest Smith or Ernest Smith, Ph.D. 2  If you have a Ph.D. you should engrave all your personal envelopes or labels with either Dr. Ernest Smith or Ernest Smith, Ph.D.his is the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas in his Treatise on Justice. (Question 58). Therefore, one should address a person with a doctorate by his title, and the person should have no fear in calling himself or herself by that name.
Confidence votes 2.3K. Some people with a PhD degree prefer to be called Dr. So-and-so. Others don't care one way or the other. I would suggest if you are addressing such a person in an academic, clinical, or other professional setting that you use this title unless they ask you to do otherwise. In a personal setting, such a formality is probably not necessary.