After thirty years of public service, Denise Carter will retire as Chief Operating Officer for the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), the Department of Education announced today. Carter’s retirement marks the ends a distinguished career, and she will be succeeded by Acting Under Secretary James Bergeron, effective immediately.
Carter’s most recent accomplishments include leading FSA’s implementation of the FAFSA application in April 2024, followed by her appointment as Acting Chief Operating Officer last July. She was later named Acting U.S. Secretary of Education in January 2025 to assist with the Department’s transition to the second Trump Administration.
Carter is well known for her time as a key advisor in other offices, such as the Department of Education’s Office of Finance and Operations. Her career also includes serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Chief Human Capital Officer at the Department of Health and Human Services.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served our country for the past three decades, especially the last twelve years at the Department of Education,” said former Acting FSA Chief Operating Officer Denise Carter. “As I move on, I hope we as a nation commit to ensuring every student has the support needed to achieve extraordinary educational outcomes. The economic strength of our nation depends on their success.”
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressed her appreciation for Carter’s contributions:
“Throughout her distinguished career in public service, Ms. Carter has showcased a willingness to take on challenging roles. Prior to my arrival to the Department, she served as a pivotal leader – lending unparalleled expertise to incoming officials including myself,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “On behalf of the entire Department, we thank Ms. Carter for her guidance throughout this transition and wish her all the best moving forward.
For further details on Carter’s retirement, visit: