Senior Fellow

Reginald Wells

Member Since 2026

Biography

Reginald F. Wells was named Deputy Commissioner of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Office of Human Resources effective July 15, 2002 after serving short tenures as Deputy Associate Commissioner for Disability Program Policy and Senior Advisor in the Office of Disability and Income Security Programs. Dr. Wells also serves as the Chief Human Capital Officer for SSA. In his capacity as Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources, Dr. Wells oversees a staff complement of 400 employees with an operating budget of $100 million.

Dr. Wells served as Deputy Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities from October 1994 to April 2002. He shared with the Commissioner full responsibility for planning and directing 25 federal staff and programmatic activities, including the University Centers, Developmental Disabilities Councils, Protection and Advocacy Systems and Projects of National Significance with a program budget of over $122 million.

From October 1997 to May 1998, Dr. Wells served as the Acting Commissioner of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities in the United States Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Prior to his appointment in the Administration on Developmental Disabilities, Dr. Wells had 10 years of extensive public sector experience with the District of Columbia’s (D.C.) Department of Human Services.

History of Employment

Position Division Organization Start End
Executive in Residence American University Present
Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources U.S. Social Security Administration 2002 2017
Chief Human Capital Officer U.S. Social Security Administration Current
Chief Diversity Officer U.S. Social Security Administration Current
Deputy Associate Commissioner for Disability Program Policy U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Current
Senior Advisor to the Deputy U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Current
Commissioner for Disability and Income Security Programs U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Current
Deputy Commissioner for the Administration on Developmental Disability U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 1994 2002
Deputy Commissioner Commission on Social Services District of Columbia Current
Deputy Administrator/Acting Chief Bureau of Community Services Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Administration Current
Superintendent/Chief Bureau of Habilitation Services Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Administration Current
Division Director Geriatrics Center Department of Health & Rehabilitation, County of Essex, NJ Current
Deputy Department Director for Planning and Development Department of Health & Rehabilitation, County of Essex, NJ Current
Chief of Program Monitoring and Evaluation Department of Health & Rehabilitation, County of Essex, NJ Current
Research Associate National Center on Black Aged Current

Expertise

Primary Sector

Federal
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