David Gustafson Receives Robert J. Myers Public Service Award from the American Academy of Actuaries

WASHINGTON—2024-25 American Academy of Actuaries President Darrell Knapp presented David (Dave) Gustafson, MAAA, EA, former Chief Policy Actuary of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), with the Robert J. Myers Public Service Award at the Academy’s Leadership Summit and Governance Transition event in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 21.

The award, named after former (1947–1970) Social Security Administration Chief Actuary Robert J. Myers, is presented annually to an actuary who has made major contributions to the common good through service to government or other public organizations.

Gustafson had an extraordinary four-decade career at the PBGC, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to protecting the nation’s defined-benefit retirement system, and served in other public-service roles as well, including serving on numerous Academy committees. He currently is a member of the Academy’s Pension Committee.

“Throughout his public service journey, Dave was widely sought after, bringing a lamp so others could see the value of actuarial expertise. That journey included innumerable projects and roles on which Dave showed expertise, professionalism, and results,” Knapp said at the award ceremony. “Among those, he provided insights to the Department of Defense on military compensation reforms. He provided leadership at the Treasury Department in evaluating distressed multiemployer pension funds.”

In accepting the award, Gustafson said: “Valuable service to the public comes in many forms, including contributing to the Academy’s informative and widely shared work. I encourage all actuaries to dip their toes into the bigger pond of how their expertise can serve the greater good, in whatever form that may take. You may not become a public servant like me, but you will do good and be a better actuary for it.”

Learn more at actuary.org/awards.

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The American Academy of Actuaries is a 20,000-member professional association whose mission is to serve the public and the U.S. actuarial profession. For 60 years, the Academy has assisted public policymakers on all levels by providing leadership, objective expertise, and actuarial advice on risk and financial security issues. The Academy also sets qualification, practice, and professionalism standards for actuaries in the United States.