President Donald Trump has picked Maureen Ohlhausen to serve as acting chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission. Ms. Ohlhausen will succeed Edith Ramirez, who on Jan. 13 announced her resignation from the FTC, effective Feb. 10.
"I am deeply honored that President Trump has asked me to serve as acting chairman of the FTC and to preserve America's true engine of prosperity: a free, honest and competitive marketplace," Ms. Ohlhausen said in a statement. "In pursuit of that mission, I will work to protect all consumers from fraud, deception and unfair practices. I will safeguard competition while preserving American innovation and promoting economic liberty for all citizens. Finally, I will ensure the commission minimizes the burdens on legitimate business as we carry out this vital work."
Here are five things to know about Ms. Ohlhausen.
1. She was appointed by Barack Obama as a commissioner of the FTC on April 4, 2012, to a term that expires in September 2018, according to a news release.
2. Previously, Ms. Ohlhausen was a partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer, a law firm based in Washington, D.C. In that role, she led the firm's FTC practice focusing on privacy, data protection and cybersecurity matters, the release states.
3. Ms. Ohlhausen also previously served at the FTC for more than a decade. Most recently, she was director of the office of policy planning from 2004 to 2008. Her other previous FTC roles include deputy director of the office of policy planning, and attorney advisor for former FTC Commissioner Orson Swindle.
4. Outside of the FTC, Ms. Ohlhausen spent five years at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the release states.
5. Ms. Ohlhausen earned a law degree from Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University, in Arlington, Va. She also served on the adjunct faculty at the law school.
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