David M. Strauss of Bismarck, N.D., represents the interests of the general public and serves as chairman of the Advisory Committee. As PBGC executive director from 1997 to 2001, he presided over financial surpluses in both the single-employer and multiemployer insurance programs and put a high priority on the agency's mission to promote defined benefit pension plans.  As deputy chief of staff for Vice President Al Gore from 1994 to 1997, he advised the vice president on economic and domestic policy issues, including wage and workplace protection, retirement security, health care, and trade. Mr. Strauss graduated magna cum laude from Moorhead State College with a Bachelor of Science in political science and secondary education.  He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. Mr. Strauss's term expires on February 19, 2012.

R. Todd Gardenhire represents the interests of employers. Mr. Gardenhire is a senior vice president with the Smith Barney division of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. in Chattanooga, Tenn. Before joining the PBGC Advisory Committee, he served as an investment management representative on the U.S. Department of Labor’s ERISA Advisory Council. He holds a bachelor of science degree in business management from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Gardenhire’s term expires on February 19, 2010.

Richard A. Manka represents the interests of employers. He is the chief investment officer for the pension plans of  The Kroger Co., and chairman of the investment committee of the grocery industry's largest multiemployer pension plan. He is also chairman of the Hutchinson Community Foundation in Kansas.  Mr. Manka earned a bachelor's degree in accounting and business administration and a master's degree in accounting from the University of Kansas. Mr. Manka’s term will expire on February 19, 2010.

Jack Miller represents the interests of employees. He recently retired as senior advisor for General Motors Asset Management in New York, in which capacity he restructured GM's $21 billion 401(k) plan. He was also responsible for the pension and 401(k) plan assets of GM's external ERISA clients, GMAC Insurance assets, and VEBA healthcare assets. Mr. Miller previously served as vice president-relationship management at J.P. Morgan Investment Management in New York, corporate controller and chief investment officer for Philip Morris Companies, and director of benefit plan investments for Eli Lilly and Company. Mr. Miller holds an undergraduate degree in international relations from Princeton University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. Mr. Miller’s term expires on February 19, 2011.

Dana M. Muir represents the interests of the general public. Ms. Muir is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Business Law at the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, where her primary research interests are employment law and securities law as they relate to employee benefits. She also serves as editor-in-chief of the annual Supplement to Employee Benefits Law. From 2002-2004, she served as a member of the Department of Labor's Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans. Ms. Muir earned an MBA from the University of Detroit and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Ms. Muir’s term expires on February 19, 2011.

John J. Szczur represents the interests of employees. Mr. Szczur is director of investments for the Central Pension Fund of the International Union of Operating Engineers and Participating Employers in Washington. He has also served as a senior investment analyst for National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Arlington, Va. Mr. Szczur has an undergraduate degree in business and economics from the University of Pittsburgh, an MBA from George Washington University and a master's degree in real estate and urban development from American University. Mr. Szczur’s term expires on February 19, 2011.