Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) - Appointment History

Presidential Appointments

Appointment 1

• Britt Snider – 10/4/2004, (Chairman) appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2008
• Jennifer Sims – 12/24/2008, appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2011
• Laura DeBonis – 3/12/2015, appointed by President Obama; term ended on 3/11/2018
• Adam Telle â€“ 12/30/2020, appointed by President Trump to a three-year term ending on 12/29/2023*
• Laura DeBonis â€“ 11/30/2021, appointed by President Biden; term ended on 1/10/2024**
• Laura DeBonis â€“ 1/11/2024, appointed by President Biden to a three-year term that ends on 1/10/2027

* Note:  Mr. Telle declined the appointment

** Note:  Though PIDB members typically serve for 3-year terms, Ms. DeBonis's official appointment from the White House Office of the Executive Clerk stipulated that the appointment is for the remainder of the term expiring on December 29, 2023, vice Adam Telle. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2023 authorized that members whose term has expired may continue to serve. Ms. DeBonis’s term was extended to 1/10/2024 until she was reappointed.

Appointment 2

• Martin Faga – 10/4/2004, appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2008
• Martin Faga – 10/4/2008, appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2011
• Martin Faga – 2/10/2012, appointed by President Obama; term ended on 10/3/2014
• James E. Baker – 6/21/2016, appointed by President Obama for a three-year term that was extended and ended on June 9, 2020. Judge Baker served as Acting Chair from June 22, 2018, to June 5, 2020
• Paul-Noel Chretien â€“ 12/30/2020, appointed by President Trump; term ended on 1/10/2024
• Andrew Byrnes – 1/11/2024, appointed by President Biden to a three-year term that ends on 1/10/2027

Appointment 3 

• Stephen Garfinkel – 10/4/2004, appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2008
• Herbert O. Briick – 10/23/2008, appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2011
• William Leary – 2/10/2012, appointed by President Obama; term ended on 10/3/2014
• William Leary – 1/14/2015, appointed by President Obama; term ended on 1/13/2018
• Benjamin A. Powell – 10/9/2020, appointed by President Trump; term ended on 10/8/2023 
• Mary DeRosa – 10/10/2023, appointed by President Biden to a three-year term that ends on 10/9/2026, and on 12/6/2023, appointed Chair for a two-year term that ends on 12/5/2025

Appointment 4 

• Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker – 10/4/2004, appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2007
• Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker – 10/23/2008, appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2010
• Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker –1/10/2012, appointed by President Obama; term ended on 10/3/2013
• Solomon Watson – 3/12/2015, appointed by President Obama; term ended on 3/11/2018
• Michael G. Lawrence – 10/9/2020, appointed by President Trump; term ended on 10/8/2023
• Carmen Medina – 10/10/2023, appointed by President Biden to a three-year term that ends on 10/9/2026

Appointment 5 

• Richard Norton Smith – 10/4/2004, appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2006
• Ronald Radosh – 4/10/2007, appointed by President Bush; term ended on 10/3/2009*
• Nancy Soderberg – 1/10/2012; term ended on 10/3/2012
• Nancy Soderberg – 11/16/2012; term ended on 10/3/2015
• Trevor W. Morrison – 6/21/2016, appointed by President Obama for a three-year term that was extended and ended on June 9, 2020. Mr. Morrison served as acting chair until June 21, 2018​.**
• Ezra Cohen â€“ 1/11/2021, appointed by President Trump; a term that ended on 1/10/2024, and as Chair for a two-year term that ended on 1/10/2023
• David Hickton â€“ 1/11/2024, appointed by President Biden to a three-year term that ends on 1/10/2027

*Note:  Mr. Radosh’s term ended on 10/3/2009; however, the wording in the White House announcement of 4/10/2007 advised (incorrectly) that his appointment would end on April 9, 2010.

**Note: Mr. Morrison was appointed by President Obama for a three-year term.  His two-year chairmanship term ended on 6/21/2018.

Congressional Appointments

Speaker of the House 

• William O. Studeman – 6/6/2006, appointed by Speaker Dennis Hastert; term ended on 6/5/2009
• David E. Skaggs – 6/24/2009, appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi; term ended on 6/5/2012
• William O. Studeman – 5/18/2012, appointed by Speaker John Boehner; term ended on 5/17/2015
• John F. Tierney – 7/1/2020, appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi; term ended on 6/30/2023
• Ezra Cohen â€“ 1/11/2024, appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson to a three-year term that ends on 1/10/2027

Minority Leader of the House 

• David Skaggs – 1/19/2005, appointed by Leader Nancy Pelosi; term ended on 1/18/2007
• David Skaggs – 7/16/2007, appointed by Leader John Boehner; resigned on 6/5/2009
• William O. Studeman – 5/21/2009, appointed by Leader John Boehner; resigned on 5/20/2012*
• David E. Skaggs – 3/29/2012, appointed by Leader Nancy Pelosi; resigned on 3/28/2015*
• John F. Tierney – 7/11/2017, appointed by Leader Nancy Pelosi for a three-year term, he resigned on 6/30/2020 to accept realignment for a three-year appointment by the Speaker of the House that ends on 6/30/2023
• Harold W. ("Trey") Gowdy III  –  8/24/2020, appointed by Leader Kevin McCarthy; term ended on 8/23/2023

* Note:  Adm. Studeman and Mr. Skaggs, working closely with the Congressional leadership after the Party change in the House, arranged for their resignations and reappointments so as to re-align the Speaker/Minority Leader appointments.

Majority Leader of the Senate 

• Joan Vail Grimson – 3/10/2005, appointed by Leader Bill Frist; term ended on 3/9/2008*
• Sanford Ungar – 3/7/2008, appointed by Leader Harry Reid; term ended on 3/9/2011*
• Sanford Ungar – 3/7/2011, reappointed by Leader Harry Reid; term ended on 3/6/2014
• Sanford Ungar – 3/6/2014, reappointed by Leader Harry Reid; term ended on 3/5/2017
• Kenneth L. Wainstein – 9/20/2016, reappointed by Leader Mitch McConnell; term ended on 9/7/2020
• Alissa M. Starzak â€“ 2/15/2022, reappointed by Leader Charles E. Schumer to a three-year term that ends on 2/14/2025. Ms. Starzak served as Acting Chair from 6/5/2020 to 1/10/2021; as Vice Chair of the Board, as elected first by the members in 2018; and as Acting Chair from 1/11/2023 to 12/5/2023.

* Note: Mr. Ungar’s appointment was published before Ms. Grimson’s term ended, so Counsel advised that the date of 3/10/2008 be used as his official start date, and 3/9/2011 be used as his official end date.

Minority Leader of the Senate 

• William Burck – 5/18/2010, appointed by Leader Mitch McConnell; term ended on 5/17/2012
• Kenneth L. Wainstein – 9/17/2013, appointed by Leader Mitch McConnell; term ended on 9/16/2016
• Alissa M. Starzak – 2/27/2018, appointed by Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer for a three-year term that ended on 2/14/2022. Ms. Starzak served as Acting Chair from 6/5/2020 to 1/10/2021. She served as vice chair of the Board, as elected by the members. 

• Carter Burwell – 2/15/2022, appointed by Leader Mitch McConnell for a three-year term that ends on 2/14/2025