Chairman Announces Retirement of Managing Director Mark Stephens 
Stephens’ Storied FCC Career Spans 35 Years of Financial Stewardship and Saw Numerous Accolades for Excellence
   
WASHINGTON, February 9, 2026—Today, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr congratulated Managing Director Mark Stephens on his retirement following his decades of outstanding service.  The FCC’s Managing Director provides oversight of the agency’s budget and financial programs, human resources, contracts, purchasing, communications, computer services, physical space, security, and distribution of official FCC documents.

Chairman Brendan Carr issued the following statement:

“With 35 years of service at the FCC, to say Mark Stephens will be missed at the FCC is a huge understatement.  For the last decade, he has had one job comprised of a thousand jobs: keep the FCC running and in strong fiscal shape.  In short: he has succeeded.  In fact, he has excelled through the agency’s busy times and shutdowns alike.  In the last year, he has been an invaluable counsel to my office, and I want to thank him for his tremendous work and outstanding leadership.  I wish him all the best in his retirement.” 

Additional Background Information:

Mark Stephens served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1975 to 1979.  He was first hired by the FCC as an auditor in the Common Carrier Bureau in 1991.  In 2007, he was named Chief Financial Officer and, in 2016, he became Managing Director.  During his nearly four decades of federal service, he received the 2024 FCBA Excellence in Government Service Award; FCC Meritorious Service Medal (Silver Award) in 2006 for sustained exceptional accomplishments related to the mission and objectives of the Commission; and the FCC Distinguished Service Medal (Gold Award) in 2012 for sustained extraordinary accomplishments related to the mission and objectives of the Commission.

###

Media Contact: MediaRelations@fcc.gov / (202) 418-0500
@FCC / www.fcc.gov