NIGC Chairwoman
Tracie Stevens
June 2010 to Present
On June 29, 2010, Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar swore in Tracie L. Stevens as Chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC). Stevens, a member of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, is the first Native American woman to chair the Commission.
Prior to becoming NIGC Chairwoman, Stevens served as Senior Advisor to Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk. In this role, Stevens provided policy guidance to the Assistant Secretary regarding tribal issues such as gaming, law enforcement, energy, consultation, economic development, land-into-trust, tribal government disputes, budget priorities, and treaty and natural resource rights.
In 2003, Stevens served as a legislative policy analyst in the Tulalip’s government affairs office. She represented the Tulalips in gaming compact negotiations between the state of Washington and 27 federally recognized tribes in the State. In 2006, Stevens was elevated to senior policy analyst, a position she held until 2009.
While working for the Tribe, Stevens also served as the Chair of the gaming committee for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians (2003-2009), as secretary of the board of directors for the Washington Indian Gaming Association (2002-2009) and as the northwest delegate for the National Indian Gaming Association (2003-2009).
Stevens received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from the University of Washington-Seattle. Stevens and her family reside in western Maryland.
Vice-Chairperson
Steffani A. Cochran
January 2010 to Present
Nominated by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on October 12, 2009, Steffani A. Cochran began her three-year term as Commissioner on January 4, 2010. Ms. Cochran fills a position vacant since December of 2007.
For over a decade, Ms. Cochran has built an exceptional understanding of Indian law by serving in high-level positions throughout Indian country, such as Special Counsel for Indian Affairs in the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and her previous role as General Counsel for the Pueblo of Pojoaque.
Ms. Cochran is an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma. She received her Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma State University, her Masters in Public Administration from George Mason University, and her Juris Doctorate from the American University.
Associate Commissioner
Daniel Little
April 2010 to Present
Daniel Little joined the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) as Associate Commissioner on April 19, 2010 for a three-year term. Appointed by Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Mr. Little joins Chairwoman Tracie Stevens and Vice-Chairwoman Steffani Cochran on the Commission.
Previously, Mr. Little served as Manager of National Governmental Affairs for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Foxwoods Resort Casino. In this role, he provided regulatory and compliance guidance to the Tribal gaming commission and gaming enterprise. Additionally, prior to joining the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, he was employed as a Policy Analysis for the Connecticut State legislature in Hartford, Connecticut.
Mr. Little holds a BA degree from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida and served for over ten years in the United States Army Reserve.
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Past Commissioners
Commission Chairs
| George Skibine |
October 2009 to June 2010 |
| Philip N. Hogen |
December 2002 to October 2009
|
| Montie Deer |
November 1998 to September 2002
|
| Tadd Johnson |
September 1997 to October 1998
|
| Ada Deer |
January 1997 to May 1997
|
| Harold Monteau |
October 1994 to January 1997
|
| Anthony J. Hope |
January 1990 to October 1994
|
Commissioners
| Norman H. DesRosiers |
January 2007 to January 2010 |
| Cloyce V. Choney |
December 2002 to December 2007 |
| Nelson W. Westrin |
December 2002 to December 2005
|
| Teresa E. Poust |
June 1999 to December 2002
|
| Elizabeth Lohah Homer |
July 1999 to July 2002
|
| Phil Hogen |
December 1995 to June 1999 |
| Tom Foley |
September 1995 to March 1998
|
| Lacy Thornburg |
August 1994 to March 1995
|
| Jana M. McKeag |
April 1991 to December 1995
|
| Joel M. Frank |
November 1990 to November 1993
|
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