FDAAA Leadership
Director
James S. Benson
Jim Benson was employed by FDA for 20 years during which time he held a number of senior positions. Jim began his career as head of the Division of Training and Medical Applications in the former Bureau of Radiological Health (now CDRH). In this post, he led a number of successful nationwide programs to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure. He was later promoted to BRH Deputy Director and remained in the position following the 1982 merger of FDA's radiological health and medical devices programs. From July 1988-July 1991, he served as FDA Deputy Commissioner and later as Acting Commissioner. He returned to CDRH in 1991 as Director and retired from FDA in 1992. From early 1993 through mid-2002, Benson was Executive Vice President for Technical and Regulatory Affairs at Advamed. While there, he had a significant role in the enactment of The Food and Drug Modernization Act of 1997, the Biomaterials Access Act of 1998 and the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act of 2002. Jim now is a private consultant to medical device companies and serves on the Board of several organizations. He headed the Association's Awards Subcommittee.