FDAAA’s Hail to the Chief Counsels and Their Deputies a Resounding Success

On the rainy evening of December 6, 2016, more than 130 FDAAA members and their guests gathered at the shiny, new offices of Arnold & Porter to pay tribute to of FDA Chief Counsels and their deputies who had served over the past 45 years.

Mark Raza, Current Deputy Chief Counsel; Ed Steele, FDAAA Presdient; Jeff Springer, Deputy Chief Counsel 2005 – 2007; Jeff Senger, Deputy Chief Counsel – 2011; Jerry Masoudi, Deputy Chief Counsel – 2010 – 2011, Chief Counsel – 2007 – 2009; Liz Dickinson, Current Chief Counsel; Richard Cooper, Chief Counsel – 1977 – 1979; Peter Barton Hutt, Chief Counsel 1971- 1975; Nancy Myers, Chairwoman of the Board, FDAAA; and Sheldon Bradshaw, Chief Counsel 2005 – 2007.

The event was attended by a diverse audience of FDA staff and FDA alumni of all different backgrounds and professions. Many of the attendees had served under one or more of the honorees at some point during their FDA career.

Each Chief Counsel or Deputy Chief Counsel was asked to introduce his successor. It was clear from the warm and wise-cracking tone of the introductions that there is a true camaraderie and respect that is passed from one generation to the next at the FDA Chief Counselâ??s office. The weight of the importance of the role in shaping food and drug law was not lost on any of those who had served or who currently serve.

Guests mixed and mingled while overlooking the DC skyline.

Dan Krakov, Stuart Pape, and Joe Levitt

Jessica O’Connell, Nicole Smith, and Haley Kropa

Jerry Masoudi and Peter Barton Hutt

Kirsten Paulson and Mitchell Stein

The event was generously hosted by Arnold & Porter LLP, and sponsored by: Biotech Policy Group, Catalyst Healthcare Consulting, Covington & Burling LLP, EAS Consulting Group, Greenleaf Health, Hogan Lovells US LLP, Hyman Phelps & McNamara, PC, Keller & Heckman LLP, Polsinelli PC, and Sidley Austin LLP.