The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that Stephen Evangelista has been appointed Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Operations. Evangelista will now oversee SSA’s network of more than 1,200 field offices and 23 teleservice centers across the United States.
Evangelista brings 25 years of SSA leadership experience
Stephen Evangelista has served in executive leadership roles at SSA for over 25 years. Most recently, he worked as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy in the Office of Law and Policy. Among his achievements, Evangelista led efforts to unify the agency’s 3,000 data-matching agreements, improving program administration across the board.
“Stephen’s proven track record of leadership and his dedication to public service make him an excellent choice for this critical role,” said Lee Dudek, Acting Commissioner of Social Security.
Transition follows Doris Diaz’s leadership
Evangelista succeeds Doris Diaz, who had been acting deputy commissioner since January 2025. Under Diaz’s leadership, SSA expedited over $14.8 billion in retroactive payments to more than 2.2 million individuals following the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act.
“I am grateful to Doris for her outstanding leadership of the Office of Operations,” Dudek added. “Millions of Americans’ lives are better because of her service.”
For more information about the appointment and SSA updates, visit ssa.gov/news.
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.