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Board Members

JAMES J. WOODRUFF II, CHAIRMAN

James J. Woodruff II

James J. Woodruff II is Chairman of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The MSPB is a federal agency that adjudicates federal employee appeals, reviews whether personnel actions and regulations comply with the merit system principles and the Civil Service Reform Act, and conducts government-wide studies of the federal merit system.

The Senate confirmed Mr. Woodruff as a Member of the Board on October 7, 2025, and he was sworn into office on October 28, 2025. His appointment restored the Board's quorum, which had been lacking since April 2025. The Senate subsequently confirmed him as Chairman on August 7, 2026. His Member term expires on March 1, 2032.

Before joining the MSPB, Mr. Woodruff served as Chief Counsel to the Chairman of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, where he advised on administrative adjudication, agency operations, and federal policy. In that role, he provided legal and strategic counsel on matters affecting the Commission's adjudicatory mission and administrative responsibilities.

Mr. Woodruff has practiced law in both the public and private sectors, representing clients in trial and appellate litigation, administrative proceedings, federal employment matters, military justice cases, and federal acquisition issues. His legal experience includes advocacy before administrative tribunals, advising clients on complex regulatory and personnel matters, and supporting the effective operation of government institutions.

A Major in the United States Air Force Reserve, Mr. Woodruff has more than 15 years of military service. During a three-year active-duty assignment at Headquarters Air Force from 2016 to 2019, he advised commanders on federal employment and workplace disputes, including whistleblower matters, and represented the Department of the Air Force before the MSPB and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Throughout his military career, he has served in leadership positions supporting policy development, organizational effectiveness, and strategic decision-making.

In addition to his government and military service, Mr. Woodruff has contributed to legal education as a professor and mentor. He taught advocacy, torts, remedies, and estate planning at Florida Coastal School of Law and St. Francis School of Law, helping prepare future attorneys for legal practice and public service.

Mr. Woodruff received a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, a Juris Doctor degree from South Texas College of Law, and a Master of Military Operational Art and Science degree from Air Command and Staff College. He has also completed graduate coursework through Harvard Extension School.

His experience in administrative adjudication, federal employment law, military service, legal practice, and legal education informs his commitment to preserving merit-system principles, protecting employee rights, and supporting an effective, accountable, and professional federal civil service.

HENRY J. KERNER, VICE CHAIRMAN

Henry J. KernerHenry J. Kerner was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 14, 2024, and sworn into his duties as a member of the Board on June 3, 2024. Previously, Mr. Kerner was the Special Counsel of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) from October 2017 until October 2023. As Special Counsel, he implemented new processes and procedures aimed at improving OSC response time to whistleblower complaints and streamlining the handling of prohibited personnel practice (PPP) investigations. Under his leadership, OSC set new agency records for the number of favorable actions achieved on behalf of whistleblowers. Mr. Kerner graduated from Harvard Law School and spent 18 years working as a career prosecutor, primarily in Compton, California. In 2011, he joined the staff of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform where, under Chairman Darrell Issa and later Chairman Jason Chaffetz, he led investigations of the Federal bureaucracy and advocated on behalf of whistleblowers to protect American taxpayers. Mr. Kerner also served as staff director under Ranking Member Sen. John McCain of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.