NIGC Acting Chairman
George Skibine
October 2009 to Present
On October 5, 2009, George T. Skibine began serving as acting Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. Skibine, an enrolled member of the Osage Nation of Oklahoma, is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development – Indian Affairs. He had been serving as the acting DAS since 2004 until his appointment in February 2009. On May 23, 2008, he was temporarily delegated the authority of the Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs by Interior Deputy Secretary P. Lynn Scarlett following the departure of Assistant Secretary Carl J. Artman. Mr. Skibine acted in that capacity until the swearing-in of Larry Echo Hawk on May 22, 2009. Mr. Skibine continues to serve as the acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Economic Development-Indian Affairs.
Vice-Chairperson
Steffani A. Cochran
January 2010 to Present
Nominated by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on October 12, 2009, Steffani A. Cochran began her three-year term as Commissioner on January 4, 2010. Ms. Cochran fills a position vacant since December of 2007.
For over a decade, Ms. Cochran has built an exceptional understanding of Indian law by serving in high-level positions throughout Indian country, such as Special Counsel for Indian Affairs in the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and her previous role as General Counsel for the Pueblo of Pojoaque.
Ms. Cochran is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. She received her Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma State University, her Masters in Public Administration from George Mason University, and her Juris Doctorate from the American University.
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Past Commissioners
Commission Chairs
| Philip N. Hogen |
December 2002 to October 2009
|
| Montie Deer |
November 1998 to September 2002
|
| Tadd Johnson |
September 1997 to October 1998
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| Ada Deer |
January 1997 to May 1997
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| Harold Monteau |
October 1994 to January 1997
|
| Anthony J. Hope |
January 1990 to October 1994
|
Commissioners
| Norman H. DesRosiers |
January 2007 to January 2010 |
| Cloyce V. Choney |
December 2002 to December 2007 |
| Nelson W. Westrin |
December 2002 to December 2005
|
| Teresa E. Poust |
June 1999 to December 2002
|
| Elizabeth Lohah Homer |
July 1999 to July 2002
|
| Phil Hogen |
December 1995 to June 1999 |
| Tom Foley |
September 1995 to March 1998
|
| Lacy Thornburg |
August 1994 to March 1995
|
| Jana M. McKeag |
April 1991 to December 1995
|
| Joel M. Frank |
November 1990 to November 1993
|
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