List of members of the Federal Trade Commission

Seal of the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The following is a list of individuals who have served as a member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) beginning in 1949.[1]

Current commissioners

The commission is headed by five commissioners, who each serve seven-year terms. Commissioners are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. No more than three commissioners can be of the same political party. In practice, this means that two commissions are of the opposition party. However, three members of the FTC throughout its history have been without party affiliation, with the most recent independent, Pamela Jones Harbour, serving from 2003 to 2009.[2]

Portrait Name Party Prior experience Education Term began Term expires
Lina Khan

(Chair)

Democratic Legal scholar Williams College (BA)

Yale Law School (JD)

June 15, 2021 September 26, 2024
Rebecca Slaughter Democratic Legal advisor to Senator Chuck Schumer Yale University (BA)

Yale Law School (JD)

May 2, 2018 September 26, 2029
Alvaro Bedoya Democratic Director of the Center on Privacy and Technology at the Georgetown University Law Center Harvard College (BA)

Yale Law School (JD)

May 16, 2022 September 26, 2026
Melissa Holyoak Republican Solicitor general of Utah University of Utah (BA)

University of Utah (JD)

March 25, 2024 September 26, 2025
Andrew Ferguson Republican Solicitor general of the Commonwealth of Virginia University of Virginia (BA)

University of Virginia (JD)

April 2, 2024 September 26, 2030

Former commissioners

The following is a list of individuals who have served as a member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) beginning in 1949, including party affiliation.[1]

Commissioners Party Years in office Prior experience
John J. Carson Republican[3] September 28, 1948 – March 31, 1953 Journalist, The Baltimore Sun[4]
Stephen J. Spingarn Democratic October 25, 1950 – September 25, 1953 Assistant General Counsel, Department of the Treasury[5]
Caspar Weinberger Republican December 31, 1969 – August 6, 1970 California State Assemblyman for the 21st district[6]
Philip Elman Independent April 21, 1961 – October 18, 1970 Assistant to the Solicitor General[7]
Miles Kirkpatrick Republican September 14, 1970 – February 20, 1973 Head of the Antitrust Section, American Bar Association (ABA)[8]
Everette MacIntyre Democratic September 26, 1961 – August 30, 1973 FTC trial lawyer[9]
Mary Gardiner Jones Republican[10] October 29, 1964 – November 2, 1973 Staff attorney, DOJ Antitrust Division[11]
David S. Dennison Jr. Republican October 18, 1970 – December 31, 1973 Congressman from Ohio's 11th district[12]
Mayo J. Thompson Democratic July 8, 1973 – September 26, 1975 Antitrust attorney in private practice[13]
Lewis A. Engman Democratic February 20, 1973 – December 31, 1975 Assistant Director, White House Domestic Council[14]
Calvin J. Collier Republican March 24, 1976 – December 31, 1977 Director of Urban Program Coordination, Department of Housing and Urban Development[15]
Stephen A. Nye Republican May 5, 1974 – May 5, 1978 Partner at Sullivan, Jones and Archer LLP[16]
Elizabeth Hanford Dole Democratic (1973-1975)

Republican (1975-1979)[17]

December 4, 1973 – March 9, 1979 Director, White House Office of Consumer Affairs[18]
Paul Rand Dixon Democratic March 21, 1961 – September 25, 1981 FTC trial attorney[19]
David A. Clanton Republican August 26, 1975 – October 14, 1983 Minority Staff Counsel, Senate Committee on Commerce[20]
Michael Pertschuk Democratic April 21, 1977 – October 15, 1984 Chief Counsel, Senate Committee on Commerce[21]
George W. Douglas Democratic December 27, 1982 – September 18, 1985 President, Southwest Econometrics Inc. (private economic research firm)[22]
James C. Miller III Republican September 30, 1981 – October 5, 1985 Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)[23]
Patricia P. Bailey Republican October 29, 1979 – May 15, 1988 Assistant to the General Counsel, Merit Systems Protection Board[24]
Daniel Oliver Republican April 21, 1986 – August 10, 1989 Executive Editor, National Review[25]
Terry Calvani Republican November 18, 1983 – September 25, 1990 Law professor, Vanderbilt University School of Law[26]
Andrew Strenio Democratic March 17, 1986 – July 15, 1991 Member, Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)[27]
Deborah K. Owen Republican October 25, 1989 – August 26, 1994 Associate White House Counsel[28]
Dennis A. Yao Democratic July 16, 1991 – August 31, 1994 Professor, Wharton School of Business[29]
Christine A. Varney Democratic October 17, 1994 – August 5, 1997 White House Cabinet Secretary[30]
Janet D. Steiger Republican August 11, 1989 – September 28, 1997 Chair of the Postal Rate Commission[31]
Roscoe B. Starek III Republican November 19, 1990 – December 18, 1997 Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel[32]
Mary Azcuenaga Independent November 27, 1984 – June 3, 1998 FTC Assistant General Counsel[33]
Robert Pitofsky Democratic June 29, 1978 – April 30, 1981

April 11, 1995 – May 31, 2001

Director, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection[34]
Sheila F. Anthony Democratic September 30, 1997 – August 1, 2003 Assistant Attorney General for Legislative Affairs[35]
Timothy Muris Republican June 4, 2001 – August 15, 2004 Law professor, GMU School of Law[36]
Mozelle W. Thompson Democratic December 17, 1997 – August 31, 2004 Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Policy[37]
Orson Swindle Republican December 18, 1997 – June 30, 2005 Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Development[38]
Thomas B. Leary Republican November 17, 1999 – December 31, 2005 Assistant General Counsel, General Motors[39]
Deborah Platt Majoras Republican August 16, 2004 – March 29, 2008 Deputy Assistant Attorney General, DOJ Antitrust Division[40]
Pamela Jones Harbour Independent August 4, 2003 – April 6, 2010 Deputy Attorney General of New York[41]
William Kovacic Republican January 4, 2006 – October 3, 2011 Law professor, The George Washington University Law School[42]
J. Thomas Rosch Republican January 5, 2006 - Sept 2012 Director, FTC Bureau of Competition[43]
Jon Leibowitz Democratic March 2, 2009 – March 7, 2013 Lobbyist, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)[44]
Joshua D. Wright Republican January 11, 2013 – August 24, 2015 Law professor, GMU Antonin Scalia Law School[45]
Julie Brill Democratic April 6, 2010 – March 31, 2016 Assistant Attorney General of Vermont for Consumer Protection and Antitrust[46]
Edith Ramirez Democratic April 5, 2010 – February 10, 2017 Vice President, LA Department of Water and Power Board of Commissioners[47]
Terrell McSweeny Democratic April 28, 2014 – April 27, 2018 Chief Counsel for Competition Policy and Intergovernmental Relations, DOJ Antitrust Division[48]
Joseph Simons Republican May 1, 2018 – January 29, 2021 Director, FTC Bureau of Competition[43]
Rohit Chopra Democratic May 2, 2018 – October 12, 2021 CFPB Assistant Director
Noah J. Phillips Republican May 2, 2018 – October 14, 2022 Counsel to Senator John Cornyn[49]
Christine S. Wilson Republican September 26, 2018 – March 31, 2023 Senior Vice President, Delta Air Lines

Chairs

The following is a list of the chairs of the Federal Trade Commission.[50]

Chairs selected by the members

Chair Party Start End Notes
Joseph E. Davies[51] Democratic March 16, 1915 June 30, 1916
Edward N. Hurley[51] Democratic July 1, 1916 January 31, 1917
William J. Harris[51] Democratic February 1, 1917 May 6, 1918
William Byron Colver Democratic May 7, 1918 June 30, 1919
John Franklin Fort Republican July 1, 1919 November 30, 1919
Victor Murdock Progressive December 1, 1919 November 30, 1920
Samuel Huston Thompson Democratic December 1, 1920 November 30, 1921
Nelson B. Gaskill Republican December 1, 1921 November 30, 1922
Victor Murdock Progressive December 1, 1922 November 30, 1923
Samuel Huston Thompson Democratic December 1, 1923 November 30, 1924
Vernon W. Van Fleet Republican December 1, 1924 November 30, 1925
John F. Nugent Democratic December 1, 1925 November 30, 1926
Charles W. Hunt Republican December 1, 1926 November 30, 1927
William E. Humphrey Republican December 1, 1927 November 30, 1928
Abram F. Myers Republican December 1, 1928 January 15, 1929
Edgar A. McCulloch Democratic January 16, 1929 November 30, 1929
Garland S. Ferguson Democratic January 1, 1930 December 30, 1930
Charles W. Hunt Republican January 1, 1931 December 31, 1931
William E. Humphrey Republican February 1, 1932 December 31, 1932
Charles H. March Republican January 1, 1933 December 31, 1933
Garland S. Ferguson Democratic January 1, 1934 December 31, 1934
Ewin L. Davis Democratic January 1, 1935 December 31, 1935
Charles H. March Republican January 1, 1936 December 31, 1936
William Augustus Ayres Democratic January 1, 1937 December 31, 1937
Garland S. Ferguson Democratic January 1, 1938 December 31, 1938
Robert E. Freer Republican January 1, 1939 December 31, 1939
Ewin L. Davis Democratic January 1, 1940 December 31, 1940
Charles H. March Republican January 1, 1941 December 31, 1941
William Augustus Ayres Democratic January 1, 1942 December 31, 1942
Garland S. Ferguson Democratic January 1, 1943 December 31, 1943
Robert E. Freer Republican January 1, 1944 December 31, 1944
Ewin L. Davis Democratic January 1, 1945 December 31, 1945
William Augustus Ayres Democratic January 1, 1946 December 31, 1946
Garland S. Ferguson Democratic January 1, 1947 December 31, 1947
Robert E. Freer Republican January 1, 1948 December 31, 1948
Lowell B. Mason Republican January 1, 1949 May 23, 1950

Chairs designated by the president

Chair Party Start End Notes
James M. Mead Democratic May 24, 1950 March 31, 1953
Edward F. Howrey Republican April 1, 1953 September 12, 1955
John W. Gwynne Republican September 12, 1955 May 31, 1959
Earl W. Kintner Republican June 11, 1959 March 20, 1961
Paul Rand Dixon Democratic March 21, 1961 December 31, 1969
Caspar Weinberger Republican January 1, 1970 August 6, 1970
Everette MacIntyre Democratic August 8, 1970 September 14, 1970 Acting
Miles W. Kirkpatrick Republican September 15, 1970 February 20, 1973
Lewis A. Engman Republican February 21, 1973 December 31, 1975
Paul Rand Dixon Democratic January 1, 1976 March 25, 1976 Acting
Calvin J. Collier Republican March 25, 1976 April 20, 1977
Michael Pertschuk Democratic April 21, 1977 March 3, 1981
David A. Clanton Republican March 4, 1981 September 25, 1981 Acting
James C. Miller III Republican September 26, 1981 October 4, 1985
Terry Calvani Republican October 7, 1985 April 20, 1986 Acting
Daniel Oliver Republican April 21, 1986 August 10, 1989
Janet Dempsey Steiger Republican August 11, 1989 April 11, 1995
Robert Pitofsky Democratic April 11, 1995 May 31, 2001
Timothy Muris Republican June 4, 2001 August 15, 2004
Deborah Platt Majoras Republican August 16, 2004 March 30, 2008
William Kovacic Republican March 31, 2008 March 1, 2009 Acting
Jon Leibowitz Democratic March 2, 2009 March 4, 2013
Edith Ramirez Democratic March 4, 2013 January 25, 2017
Maureen Ohlhausen Republican January 25, 2017 May 1, 2018 Acting
Joseph Simons Republican May 1, 2018 January 21, 2021
Rebecca Slaughter[52] Democratic January 21, 2021 June 15, 2021 Acting
Lina Khan Democratic June 15, 2021 present

Backgrounds of commissioners

Demographics

As of 2021, there have been:

Career backgrounds

The vast majority of FTC members have been individuals with legal backgrounds, with notable exceptions. President Ronald Reagan appointed the first two professional economists, James C. Miller III[53] and George W. Douglas,[54] to serve on the body. Dennis Yao, a Democrat who served from 1991 to 1994, held a Ph.D in economics, and Joshua D. Wright, a Republican who served from 2013 to 2015, held a both a J.D. and a Ph.D. in economics.[55]

References

  1. ^ a b "Commissioners and Chairmen of the Federal Trade Commission" (PDF). Federal Trade Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 12, 2013.
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  3. ^ "Khan unlikely to face confirmation fight for FTC post - FTCWatch". www.mlexwatch.com. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  4. ^ Carson, John J.; Hess, Jerry N. (8 November 1971). "Oral History Interview with John J. Carson". Harry S. Truman Library & Museum. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Stephen J. Spingarn Papers, 1943-1969". Marist University]: FDR Library Digital Collection. 4 March 1975. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Caspar Weinberger (1981–1987)". Miller Center, University of Virginia. Archived from the original on 2016-09-23.
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  8. ^ "Miles Wells Kirkpatrick '40". Princeton Alumni Weekly. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
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  10. ^ Fox, Margalit (2010-01-08). "Mary Gardiner Jones, Consumer Advocate, Dies at 89". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
  11. ^ "Choice for FTC", The New York Daily News (September 29, 1964), p. 8.
  12. ^ "David Short Dennison". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  13. ^ Turner, Allan (2007-07-18). "Mayo Thompson, 88, lawyer, faithful Aggie". Chron. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  14. ^ "FORMER FTC CHAIRMAN LEWIS A. ENGMAN DIES". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  15. ^ "HUD Official to Speak to Builders", The Wichita Eagle-Beacon (May 6, 1973), p. 22.
  16. ^ Shifrin, Carole (1979-05-27). "Stephen Nye, Member Of FTC, Author of Letters By W.F.(Fred) Bunch, Dies". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
  17. ^ Greenhouse, Linda; Times, Special To the New York (1988-12-25). "A Career in the Capital; Woman in the News: Elizabeth Hanford Dole". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-12.
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  22. ^ Ap (1982-12-16). "Senate Panel Backs Nomination of Douglas to F.T.C." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-16.
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