Ruth Y. Goldway, Chairman

Ruth Goldway is an experienced regulatory and public affairs professional with expertise in citizen participation, consumer issues, urban planning issues, education and the arts, as well as the mailing industry.

Ruth Goldway was designated Chairman of the United States Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) by President Barack Obama on August 6, 2009. She was first appointed by President Clinton in April, 1998 to the predecessor agency, the Postal Rate Commission, and twice reappointed by President George W. Bush, most recently in 2008 to serve a third term ending in November 2014. She is the longest serving, full-time, Senate-confirmed Presidential appointee within the Executive Branch of the United States Government. The Postal Regulatory Commission oversees the performance and accountability of the U.S. Postal Service, the world's largest post and the second largest civilian employer in the United States.

Chairman Goldway has presided over the Commission during a time marked by a record caseload and the implementation of new postal laws and regulations. On her watch, the Commission has issued a number of major decisions including the first Exigency Rate Case, the first Non-Compliance Determination, and Advisory Opinions on Post Office Station and Branch closings, and on Five Day Mail Delivery. She has made transparency a priority, establishing a series of monthly Commission public meetings, which are webcast live, and the publication of a quarterly report on rate and service inquiries. The Commission has responded to hundreds of Postal Service proposals including Rate Requests, Market Tests and Experimental Products and Negotiated Service Agreements, and has carried out its statutory International responsibilities.

Ms. Goldway has written on a variety of postal matters such as Vote by Mail for national newspapers and submitted congressional testimony. She has represented the Commission on the State Department delegation to the Universal Postal Union. Her advocacy and leadership were instrumental in the Postal Service's adoption of the "Forever Stamp" in March 2007.

In October 2012, she received a National Consumer Excellence Award for her contributions to the protection of postal consumers from the organization Consumer Action.

Ms. Goldway is a founding member and co-Chair of a networking and mentoring organization, Women in Logistics and Delivery Services (WILDS). She has lectured on the role of women in government, Finnish culture and society, urban planning, and consumerism at universities and professional associations throughout the world.

Ms. Goldway has long been a successful advocate on behalf of consumer, women's and urban issues. She was Assistant to the Director of California's Department of Consumer Affairs during the 1970s. She was elected council member and mayor of the city of Santa Monica from 1979 to 1983. She helped to found California's system of statewide farmers markets and expanded citizen representation on state regulatory boards. She served as Founder and Chairperson of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation from 1983 - 1994.

Ms. Goldway served as Director of Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles, one of the nation's most racially and ethnically diverse campuses. From 1991 to 1994 she served as Manager of Public Affairs for the Getty Trust, the largest arts and education foundation in the U.S.

In Finland, from 1994-1997, as the then spouse of the U.S. Ambassador, she authored several articles that appeared in the Finnish magazine Gloria, organized seminars on women's issues and assisted in the promotion of American products and services. Her memoirs of her experiences there, Letters from Finland, were translated and published in Finland by Otava Oy in November, 1998.

Born in New York City, Ms. Goldway attended the Bronx High School of Science, earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan and received an M.A. in English Literature from Wayne State University. She is on the board of Tree People and New Visions Foundation. Her recreational activities include biking, cooking, reading, and travel. Her family resides in Venice,California.