Summary: <p><strong>Jo Anne B. Barnhart</strong><br> Jo Anne B. Barnhart served as Commissioner of Social Security from 2001 to 2007. In that capacity, she had responsibility for the nation’s Social Security retirement and disability insurance programs and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), providing benefits to 50 million individuals each month. Prior to her tenure at the Social Security Administration, Ms. Barnhart ran her own political and public policy consulting firm and held a number of positions in both the executive and legislative branches including Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, Minority Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Government Affairs Committee, and Associate Commissioner for Family Assistance. She also served on the Social Security Advisory Board from 1997 to 2001. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, she is a graduate of the University of Delaware.</p>
