In a move that jolted both legal and financial circles, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday announced the appointment of Judge Margaret “Meg” Ryan, a senior jurist from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, to lead its Division of Enforcement.
Ryan, a decorated Marine Corps veteran and former military judge, will officially assume her post on September 2, succeeding acting director Sam Waldon. Waldon will return to his prior role as chief counsel within the division.
From Desert Storm to Securities Enforcement
Judge Ryan’s résumé is a patchwork of high-pressure arenas—combat, courtrooms, and academia. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during Operation Desert Storm, she became a partner at prestigious firms such as Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP and Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP before being appointed to the armed services appellate court in 2006.
She reached senior status in 2020 and has since lectured on military law and justice at Harvard Law School. Yet, despite her vast legal expertise, questions linger about her direct experience with securities cases.
