Press Release (En español)
For Immediate Release
press.office@ssa.gov
Carolyn Colvin Confirmed as Deputy Commissioner of Social Security
The United States Senate today confirmed Carolyn Colvin as Deputy Commissioner of Social Security to a term that expires on January 19, 2013. President Obama nominated Ms. Colvin in October 2009. She will serve as the principal deputy to the Commissioner of Social Security as well as the Secretary to the Social Security Board of Trustees.
"Carolyn brings a wealth of expertise that will be extremely valuable as we face the dual challenges of ever increasing workloads and reducing current backlogs in an environment of fiscal austerity," said Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security. "I look forward to working closely with Carolyn as we strive to meet these challenges."
Ms. Colvin has spent her career managing programs designed to assist people with their health care and financial needs. She previously worked at Social Security, holding key executive positions as Deputy Commissioner for Policy & External Affairs from 1994 to 1996, as Deputy Commissioner for Programs and Policy from 1996 until April 1998, and Deputy Commissioner for Operations from 1998 until February 2001. Ms. Colvin worked as the Director of the D.C. Department of Human Services, and the Director of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. She also held the CEO position at AMERIGROUP, DC from mid 2007 until July 2008 and, most recently, was Special Assistant to the Secretary in the Maryland Department of Transportation. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her managerial expertise and creativity, including Maryland's Top 100 Women of 2005 Award, from the Daily Record; and Women of Achievement Award, 2005, from Suburban Maryland Business and Professional Women.
The Social Security Administration, the largest independent Federal agency, administers the Social Security retirement, disability, and survivors insurance programs that paid $703 billion in benefits to more than 53 million beneficiaries this year, as well as the Supplemental Security Income program that provided $48 billion in assistance to almost 8 million people with limited income and resources. The agency has a national workforce of more than 65,000 employees with 1,500 installations throughout the U.S.
Ms. Colvin earned her graduate and undergraduate degrees in Business Administration from Morgan State University. Additionally, she completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at Harvard University, the Maryland Leadership Program, and the Greater Baltimore Leadership Program.