US SEC taps military judge to be enforcement director

Source: Reuters

August 21, 2025 5:45 PM EDT Updated 10 hours ago


Aug 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission named a senior military judge as enforcement director on Thursday, in what legal sources said was an unconventional pick for the top job policing Wall Street.

Margaret "Meg" Ryan, a senior judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, will take up the position on September 2, the SEC said in a statement.

In the statement, she said: "I look forward to joining the Commission in its important work to ensure that the Division is true to the SEC’s mission in taking action on behalf of investors harmed by those who break the securities laws and providing an effective deterrent against fraudulent and manipulative activities in our financial markets."

Relatively little known among securities lawyers, Ryan has an unusual background for SEC enforcement director. The role has typically been filled by former criminal prosecutors or agency lawyers expert in securities laws. Ryan will lead a 1,400-person division expected to take a lighter touch in policing securities markets under SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, who has criticized SEC enforcement as heavy-handed.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-sec-taps-military-judge-be-enforcement-director-2025-08-21/