WASHINGTON, DC – Bob Joondeph, JD was sworn in to begin his six-year term on the Social Security Advisory Board ending September 30, 2024. He was selected by Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), for appointment to the Board.
Upon his appointment of Member, Joondeph said:
“I look forward to the opportunity to continue my work on disability issues and learn more about other aspects of the Board’s work.”
Joondeph served as the executive director of Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) for over 30 years. DRO is the Protection and Advocacy office for Oregon, promoting and defending the legal and civil rights of Oregonians with disabilities through legal-based advocacy. Joondeph came to Oregon as a VISTA volunteer attorney in 1976. Throughout his career, Joondeph has represented individuals with disabilities in state and federal courts, agencies and legislatures. He has served as a member of numerous state policy groups in Oregon including the Health Evidence Review Commission, Health Services Commission, Health Fund Board, Mental Health Planning and Management Advisory Council, State Rehabilitation Commission, Governor’s Task Force on Brain Injury and the Council on Developmental Disabilities. He is the recipient of the Oregon State Bar Public Service Award, Oregon Disabilities Commission Advocate of the Year Award, Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon Advocacy Award, and the Oregon Civil Rights Leadership Award. Joondeph is a graduate of Case Western Reserve Law School and Brown University.
Joondeph assumes the post from Bernadette Franks-Ongoy, executive director of Disability Rights Montana, who served the Board from January 2013 through September 2018.
The Social Security Advisory Board is a bipartisan, independent federal government agency established in 1994 to advise the President, the Congress, and the Commissioner of Social Security on matters of policy and administration of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance and the Supplemental Security Income programs.
Read more about the Board’s members here.