Michelle King was named Acting Commissioner for Social Security in January 2025. In this role, Michelle leads a workforce of approximately 58,000 employees and provides oversight for the programs and services the agency administers. These programs affect individuals at several points in their lives - from birth, to entering the workforce, to facing a disability or loss, and to retirement. In fiscal year (FY) 2024, we provided financial protection for over 71 million individuals who received about $1.5 trillion annually in Social Security retirement, disability, and survivors' benefits, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Michelle is passionate about the work the agency does and is honored to serve as its Acting Commissioner.
Michelle began her career with the agency as a bilingual Claims Representative in 1994 in the Sterling, Illinois field office. In 1998, she moved to the agency's headquarters and began working in the Office of Public Service and Operations Support (OPSOS). Michelle held various positions of increasing responsibility in OPSOS; and, in 2007, she was appointed to the Senior Executive Service as the Deputy Associate Commissioner for OPSOS. Michelle was the lead Executive for the Ready Retirement initiative from 2007-2009, developing the agency's online retirement, disability, and Medicare application, iClaim.
During her career, Michelle has also held executive positions in the Office of Retirement and Disability Policy and the Office of Budget, Finance, and Management (BFM), including serving as the agency's Chief Financial Officer. Immediately prior to becoming Acting Commissioner, Michelle was the Deputy Commissioner for Operations. In this role, she was responsible for the agency's nationwide network of over 1,200 field offices, 7 Social Security Card Centers, 24 national call centers, 8 processing centers, 55 area directors offices, 15 workload support units, 10 regional offices, and 4 headquarters support components. She also oversaw 52 State disability determination services that adjudicate disability claims and 6 federal benefit field regions around the world that provide service to the public and help administer the agency's Retirement, Disability, and Supplemental Security Income programs and other services.
Michelle earned her Masters of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University in 1997 with a concentration in Public Policy and Organizational Development. She graduated cum laude with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Public Administration from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois in 1993 and earned a minor in Speech Communications.
In 2023, Michelle was awarded the Distinguished Presidential Rank Award for sustained, exceptional performance. Michelle has a Public Leadership Certificate from Harvard's Kennedy School and an Executive Leadership certificate from American University. She is also a graduate of the Duke Executive Leadership and the Federal Executive Institute's Leadership in a Democratic Society programs.
Michelle resides in Maryland with her husband George and golden retrievers, Sparky, Sophie Rose, and Bumble, and her cat, Smokey. Michelle enjoys many fitness activities, including cycling, swimming, weight/resistance training, yoga, and spending time outdoors. She is also a sustaining member of the Junior League of Baltimore.