Alumnus Profile: Ben Ossoff

2026 is an interesting time to be working in the financial regulatory space, according to alumnus of the Regulatory Studies Center and the Trachtenberg School Ben Ossoff (MPP ‘14). Ossoff is Head of Regulatory Affairs at Column—a nationally chartered bank unique for its focus on enabling tech developers to create new financial products. His primary responsibilities include managing the company’s relationship with its main regulator: the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). In addition to preparing for regular bank examinations and OCC supervisory activities, Ossoff advises the regulatory strategy for new business lines and product development at Column.

Understanding the regulatory system has been integral to Ossoff’s career path. An internship with the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Domestic Finance and an RSC-supported fellowship with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) added to his MPP concentration in regulatory policy and practice. “The work I did at OIRA, and the knowledge I gained about the different agencies and the rulemaking process, really set me up to land my first job after grad school where I was responsible for tracking proposed rules, drafting comment letters and briefing senior leadership on emerging regulations at the federal level,” Ossoff said.

This deep immersion in regulatory policy was a highlight of the graduate school experience for Ossoff. Applying the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to real-life policy issues while at Treasury and OIRA affirmed the importance of these analytical skills, he said.

As the recently passed GENIUS (‘Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins’) Act begins to be implemented, Ossoff is at the precipice of an emerging industry. The resulting increase in bank charter applications is a major change to the fintech landscape which Ossoff is watching closely. With the current administration’s change in posture toward new entrants, it will be interesting to see which companies are (and are not) granted charters in the next two years, he said.

Outside of managing regulatory challenges, Ossoff is an avid skier: “It was a pretty brutal winter last year out west so fingers crossed there’s a lot more snow this year!” Having braved one of DC’s toughest winters in recent memory, some of us are hoping all the snow stays out west next season!