SSA Commissioners

James B. Cardwell

October 24, 1973 to December 12, 1977

James "Bruce" Cardwell was born in Washington, D.C. He began his Federal service in 1942 as a clerk in the Public Housing Administration. He served with the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II, and returned to the Public Housing Administration in 1945 where he worked on administrative and budget assignments until 1954. In 1955, Mr. Cardwell received a bachelor's degree from Columbus University, the same year he joined the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, serving in various budget positions through 1973 when he resigned as DHEW's Assistant Secretary and Comptroller to become the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, a post he held until the end of 1977.