Washington, D.C. — The Social Security Administration (SSA) has officially appointed Stephen Evangelista as Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Operations, the agency announced today. In his new role, Evangelista will oversee one of the largest operational components in the federal government—managing a nationwide network of more than 1,200 field offices and 23 teleservice centers that serve millions of Americans each year.

Evangelista brings over 25 years of executive leadership experience within the SSA to the position. Prior to his appointment, he served as Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Policy in the Office of Law and Policy, where he led several key initiatives. Among his notable achievements was the successful development and implementation of a unified enterprise strategy for more than 3,000 data matching agreements, which significantly enhanced program efficiency and administration.

“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. “His deep knowledge of the agency’s programs will be an asset as we continue to improve customer service while safeguarding Americans’ hard-earned benefits.”

Evangelista succeeds Doris Diaz, who had served as Acting Deputy Commissioner for Operations since January 2025. Under Diaz’s leadership, SSA delivered major improvements in customer service, including the expedited distribution of more than $14.8 billion in retroactive payments to over 2.2 million beneficiaries under the Social Security Fairness Act.

“I am grateful to Doris for her outstanding leadership of the Office of Operations,” Dudek added. “She delivered transformational improvements in the agency’s operations, and millions of Americans’ lives are better because of her service.”

For additional information, visit the SSA’s Communications Corner at ssa.gov/news.