Tom Wheeler Sworn In As FCC Chairman

Tom Wheeler was officially sworn in as the FCC’s new chairman this morning, and the agency’s new top commissioner vowed that his leadership team would “hit the ground running,” according to an FCC news release. He was sworn in by his predecessor, Commissioner Mignon Clyburn.

“With critical work to be accomplished for the American people and the Internet becoming ever more important in the lives of consumers and businesses across the nation, this [his new FCC leadership] team provides an excellent mix of governmental, private-sector and public-interest expertise,” Wheeler said in his first official statement as the agency’s new chairman.

“They will join the many talented professionals of the FCC, as we work to continue serving the public interest during an era of technological change,” the former cable TV and wireless industry lobbyist said.

Ruth Milkman, who is currently the chief of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, will be Wheeler’s chief of staff.

In addition, Philip Verveer, a former State Department executive, will serve as senior counselor to the new chairman.

Verveer, who stepped down as deputy assistant secretary of state for international communications in January this year, is a former FCC Cable and Common Carrier Bureau chief.

Gigi Sohn, who currently heads the watchdog group Public Knowledge, will be Wheeler’s special counsel for external affairs, while Diane Cornell, a former Wheeler aide, will also serve as an agency special counsel.

Cornell, who is currently vice president for government affairs for INMARSAT, was a former FCC staffer and was also a top adviser to Wheeler when he headed the CTIA lobbying group for the wireless industry.

Maria Kirby, who is an FCC staffer, will serve as the new chairman’s legal adviser for media, consumer, governmental affairs and enforcement.

Also joining Wheeler’s staff: Daniel Alvarez, an attorney for Wilkie Farr & Gallagher, and Renee Gregory, an FCC staffer, will serve as Wheeler legal advisers; Jon Sallet will be interim director of the technology transitions policy task force and acting general counsel; Jon Wilkins, a partner at McKinsey & Co., will be acting managing director and adviser to the chairman for management, and Roger Sherman, a former Democratic congressional staffer, will be acting chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

Deborah Ridley will be Wheeler’s confidential assistant, while Sagar Doshi will be a special assistant to the chairman.

Senate aide Mike O’Rielly was sworn in for a vacant GOP slot by Wheeler on Monday morning, according to an FCC official, but no details about his staffing plans were released.