WASHINGTON, D.C.—Dennis Kelleher, President, CEO, and Co-founder of Better Markets, issued the following statement recognizing the extraordinary contributions of Michael Greenberger, who passed away on December 21, 2025. Along with his service on the Better Markets Academic Advisory Board, Greenberger was the founder and director of the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security (CHHS) and served as a professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

“For many decades, Michael was a fearless voice of reason focused solely on the public interest. His life was centered on teaching and public service. He expertly used facts and data to support policies that benefited all Americans, not only those who were wealthy and well-connected.

“Most notably, Michael served as the Director of the Division of Trading & Markets at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from 1997-1999. Throughout those years, the massive money, power, and might of the Wall Street derivatives industry was buying or bending almost everyone in Washington in the 1990s. The pressure to go along with the industry and their bogus claims of acting in the public interest was enormous. Michael along with then-CFTC Chair Brooksley Born and a few brave others stood up and refused to bend. The disaster of the 2008 Financial Crash, the factors that contributed to it, and its aftermath proved them right. Never one to rest on his laurels, Michael into 2025, always running with integrity towards new and important battles.

“Michael was a longtime friend, partner, and collaborator to Better Markets and an esteemed member of our Academic Advisory Board.  His expertise, wisdom, guidance, and friendship will be missed by all. May his memory be a blessing.”

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Better Markets is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization founded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to promote the public interest in the financial markets, support the financial reform of Wall Street and make our financial system work for all Americans again. Better Markets works with allies—including many in finance—to promote pro-market, pro-business and pro-growth policies that help build a stronger, safer financial system that protects and promotes Americans’ jobs, savings, retirements and more. To learn more, visit www.bettermarkets.org.