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 – 12/30/2020, appointed by President Trump to a three-year term ending on 12/29/2023*
Laura DeBonis – 11/30/2021, appointed by President Biden; term ended on 1/10/2024**
Laura DeBonis – 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 members whose term has expired to 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 – 12/30/2020, appointed by President Trump; term ended on 1/10/2024
Andrew Byrnes – 1/11/2024, appointed by President Biden; resigned on December 31, 2024
Ryan Montoya, appointed 01/15/2025, appointed by President Biden for a term that ends on 01/03/2027
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, appointed Chair on 12/6/2023; resigned on 12/4/2024
Mark Angelson – 01/13/2025, appointed by President Biden and designated as Chair; terms ends on 10/9/2026
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 – 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 – 1/11/2024, appointed by President Biden; resigned on December 31, 2024
John W. McCarthy - 01/13/2025, appointed by President Biden for a term that ends on 01/03/2027
*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 – 1/11/2024, appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson to a three-year term that ends on 1/10/2027. Mr. Cohen serves as vice chair of the Board, as elected by the members in 2025.
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
Valdez (“Val”) Butler Demings - 05/06/2025, appointed by Leader Hakeem Jeffries to a three-year term that ends on 05/05/2028
* 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 – 2/15/2022, reappointed by Leader Charles E. Schumer to a three-year term that ended on 2/14/2025. Ms. Starzak was Vice Chair of the Board, 2018-2025; served as Acting Chair from 6/5/2020 to 1/10/2021, 1/11/2023 to 12/5/2023, and 12/4/2024 to 1/13/2025.
Carter Burwell - 5/13/2025, appointed by Leader John Thune for a three-year term that ends on 5/12/2028. Mr. Burwell serves as vice chair of the Board, as elected by the members in 2025.
* 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; term ended on 2/14/2025
Alissa M. Starzak - 2/15/2025, reappointed by Leader Charles E. Schumer to a three-year term that ends on 2/14/2028.