SSA Commissioners

Dorcas R. Hardy

June 26, 1986 to July 31, 1989

Dorcas Hardy, born in Newark, New Jersey, graduated from Connecticut College with a bachelor's degree in 1968, and a master's degree from Pepperdine University in 1976. Prior to federal service, Ms. Hardy worked as a senatorial aide in 1970; a special assistant to National Chairman and Director, White House Conference on Children and Youth in 1971; Executive Director, Health Services Industry Committee, Cost of Living from 1971 to 1973; Assistant Secretary for Health, California Health and Welfare Agency from 1973 to 1974; Health Consultant, Urban Management Consultants and Medi-Mark, California in 1974; Associate Director, Center for Health Services Research, University of Southern California from 1974 to 1981. In 1981 Ms. Hardy entered federal service as HHS's Assistant Secretary for Human Development Services, a position she held until 1986, when President Ronald Reagan appointed her Commissioner of Social Security. Ms. Hardy served as Commissioner until 1989, when she resigned to establish her own consulting firm.