Deborah J. Jeffrey has been appointed inspector general of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a news release.
Her appointment took effect on May 7, the agency said.
“Deb will bring incredible experience in public service and oversight to the SEC," SEC Chair Gary Gensler said in a statement. "The Inspector General’s office plays a critical role as an independent reviewer to promote the integrity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the SEC. I thank Deb for taking on this important responsibility. I also thank Katherine Reilly, Helen Albert, and Rebecca Sharek for their rotating service each as Acting Inspector General and their ongoing dedication to the SEC.”
Jeffrey oversees AmeriCorps as its inspector general, the news release said. Jeffrey led initiatives to enhance financial management and accountability while working for AmeriCorps, where she handled national service grants around the country, put in place a tough enforcement program to prevent grant fraud, and oversaw national service grants. She spent 25 years as a lawyer in private practice before taking the position of Inspector General for AmeriCorps in 2012.
She defended senior government officials in prominent criminal, Congressional, and Inspector General investigations and provided advice to attorneys and law firms on ethical issues and risk management. These included the Enron cases. She also represented individuals and entities in white-collar criminal defense and civil enforcement proceedings.
Jeffrey is the author of more than 30 appellate opinions in disciplinary cases and serves as vice chair of the District of Columbia's attorney disciplinary system. Harrison L. Winter, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, was Ms. Jeffrey's first employer in the legal field. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Johns Hopkins University, where she was Chief Editor of the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review, the news release said.
