April 21, 1987
The President today announced his appointment of John A. Svahn to be Commissioner of the United States of America on the Commission for the Study of Alternatives to the Panama Canal. He would succeed Arthur H. Davis.
Mr. Svahn is currently a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. From 1983 to 1986, he served at the White House as Assistant to the President for Policy Development. He was Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, March 1983 - September 1983; and Commissioner for Social Security at the Department of Health and Human Services, 1981 - 1983.
Mr. Svahn graduated from the University of Washington (B.A., 1966). He attended the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (1969 - 1973), and Georgetown University School of Law (1973 - 1974). Mr. Svahn served in the United States Air Force, 1966 - 1968. He was born May 13, 1943, in New London, CT. Mr. Svahn is married, has two children, and resides in Severna Park, MD.