Koplan, 62, a Democrat from Virginia, was nominated by President Clinton for the statutory term that will expire on June 16, 2005.

Prior to his appointment, Koplan was the Director for Governmental and Conservation Affairs at Safari Club International. Previously, he served as a principal at the Washington law firm of Bayh & Connaughton; as Vice President of Governmental Affairs for Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., where he directed the federal legislative and regulatory operations of the company with an emphasis on tax and foreign trade; and as a Legislative Representative for the AFL-CIO, acting as the organization's chief lobbyist for tax and foreign trade legislation. Prior to joining the AFL-CIO, he served in both the tax and civil rights divisions of the U.S. Department of Justice. Koplan also served as staff attorney to former Sen. Lee Metcalf (D-Montana), with responsibility for all tax and foreign trade legislation referred to the Senate Committee on Finance.

Koplan is originally from Belmont, MA. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University, a Juris Doctor degree from Boston University, and a Master of Laws (in taxation) degree from New York University. Koplan is married and has four children and two grandchildren. He resides in Fairfax, VA.