The acting chairman of the National Credit Union Administration, Mark McWatters, named his former senior policy advisor, Sarah Vega, as his new chief of staff.
Vega had served as McWatters’ senior policy advisor since he joined the NCUA Board in August 2014. Previously, she was senior policy advisor to NCUA board member Michael Fryzel before becoming Fryzel’s chief of staff when he was named NCUA board chairman.
“Sarah has served NCUA and credit unions very well during her time at NCUA; she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role,” McWatters said. “Having served as my Senior Policy Advisor for the last two and a half years, I am confident that she will remain an asset to my efforts as NCUA’s acting chairman. I continue to value her advice and perspective as we tackle the challenges ahead.”
Vega has experience in credit union law and regulation, securities law and public policy.
Vegas previously worked at the Illinois Department of Financial Institutions where she held the role of director and administrator of the Credit Union Division. Also, she served on the board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank Chicago as well as the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors. She was chair of the latter from 1999 to 2000.
Vegas was also an enforcement attorney for the Securities Department of the Illinois Secretary of State and had a private law practice in Chicago, specializing in securities, mergers and product liability cases. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a juris doctorate from DePaul University.