On January 13, 2025, President Biden designated Mark Angelson as Chair and appointed him as member for the remainder of Mary DeRosa’s term. John W. McCarthy and Ryan Montoya were appointed as members for the remainder of David Hickton’s and Andrew Byrnes’s terms respectively. Mark Angelson most recently served as a member of the President’s … Continue reading President Biden appoints Mark Angelson as Chair, John W. McCarthy and Ryan Montoya as Board Members
Category: Membership
New Appointees and Executive Session Held on January 17, 2024
President Biden reappointed Laura DeBonis and appointed Andrew Byrnes and David Hickton to three-year terms as members of the PIDB, effective on January 11, 2024. Speaker Mike Johnson appointed Ezra Cohen to a second three-year term, also effective on January 11. The PIDB held a virtual executive session on January 17, 2024. New members, Andrew … Continue reading New Appointees and Executive Session Held on January 17, 2024
President Biden Appoints Mary DeRosa as Chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board
On December 6, 2023, President Joseph R. Biden appointed Mary DeRosa to a two-year term as Chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board. Ms. DeRosa is a Professor from Practice at the Georgetown University Law Center. The PIDB members and staff look forward to working with her on matters pertaining to reforming and modernizing the … Continue reading President Biden Appoints Mary DeRosa as Chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board
New Presidential Appointees
On October 10, 2023, President Biden appointed Mary DeRosa and Carmen Medina to three-year terms as members of the PIDB. Both members took the oath of office on November 7, from William Fischer, PIDB’s Executive Secretary.
Remembering Former PIDB Member Martin C. Faga
Martin C. FagaJune 11, 1941 – October 19, 2023Former PIDB member, Martin Faga, died on October 19, 2023. Marty served for three terms and as acting chair. He was appointed by President George W. Bush as an inaugural member of the PIDB and was present at the Board’s first meeting on Saturday, February 25, 2006. … Continue reading Remembering Former PIDB Member Martin C. Faga
Interviews with the PIDB: Paul-Noel Chretien
After a career working at the Department of Justice and the CIA, Paul-Noel Chretien is currently a management analyst at Leidos. Mr. Chretien identifies two major challenges the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) faces: over-classification and insufficient resources in executive branch agencies for review and release programs. He notes that there are few incentives for … Continue reading Interviews with the PIDB: Paul-Noel Chretien
Interviews with the PIDB: Ben Powell
Ben Powell is currently a partner at WilmerHale, and is the co-chair of the cybersecurity and privacy practice. Mr. Powell highlighted two challenges the government confronts in improving the declassification process: prioritization and resources. First, immediate national security issues often take priority over declassification issues. The government is dealing with geopolitical issues and national security … Continue reading Interviews with the PIDB: Ben Powell
Interviews with the PIDB: Michael Lawrence
Prior to his appointment to the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB), Michael Lawrence held senior executive leadership positions in the Intelligence Community (IC) throughout his career of 20+ years. Mr. Lawrence would like to see the PIDB focus on three areas. First, he would like the PIDB to expand its focus to include a greater … Continue reading Interviews with the PIDB: Michael Lawrence
Interviews with the PIDB: Chairman Ezra Cohen
Today we launch a series of interviews conducted by Rachel Legow and Matt Arnold with members of the Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB), beginning with PIDB Chair Ezra Cohen. Ezra Cohen, the chair of the PIDB, served in the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community prior to his board appointment. The PIDB is charged … Continue reading Interviews with the PIDB: Chairman Ezra Cohen
Public Interest Declassification Board Seeks Fall Graduate Student Intern—Apply by Friday, August 12, 2022
The Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) is seeking a fall graduate student intern to support the PIDB and staff in promoting improvements in the classification and declassification of national security information across the federal government. The Intern will assist in supporting the PIDB’s public meetings and executive sessions; advancing public communications, including blog content on … Continue reading Public Interest Declassification Board Seeks Fall Graduate Student Intern—Apply by Friday, August 12, 2022