The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has elected its 2026 officer slate, naming four state insurance leaders to its top posts at the close of the 2025 Fall National Meeting.
Virginia Insurance Commissioner Scott A. White will serve as NAIC president in 2026. White was appointed commissioner of the Virginia Bureau of Insurance effective Jan. 1, 2018.
Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation Director Elizabeth (Beth) Kelleher Dwyer was chosen as president-elect. Dwyer was appointed superintendent of insurance on Jan. 11, 2016, and became director of the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation in May 2023.
Utah Insurance Department Commissioner Jon Pike was elected vice president. Pike has led the Utah Insurance Department since Jan. 5, 2021.
South Carolina Department of Insurance Director Michael Wise will serve as secretary-treasurer. Wise was appointed director of the South Carolina Department of Insurance in May 2023.
Read more: NAIC sounds alarm on health premiums
The four officers will assume their NAIC leadership responsibilities on Jan. 1, 2026, setting the association’s priorities on issues such as market stability, consumer protection and evolving risk.
The leadership transition comes as NAIC is already active on federal-facing policy questions, particularly in health insurance. In September, NAIC leaders wrote to Congress urging an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits beyond year-end, warning that “failing to extend the enhanced credits beyond the end of this year will have a major impact on the stability and affordability of state health insurance markets.”
NAIC members also selected 2026 zone officers at the Fall National Meeting, maintaining the association’s four-zone structure of Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and Western regions. Each zone elected a chair, vice chair and secretary from among its commissioners and directors.
In the Northeast Zone, New Jersey Commissioner Justin Zimmerman was elected chair. New Hampshire Commissioner D.J. Bettencourt will serve as vice chair, with Maryland Commissioner Marie Grant as secretary.
For the Southeast Zone, Mississippi Commissioner Mike Chaney was chosen as chair. Georgia Commissioner John King will serve as vice chair, and Florida Commissioner Michael Yaworsky will be secretary.
In the Midwest Zone, Nebraska Director Eric Dunning will serve as chair. South Dakota Director Larry D. Deiter was elected vice chair, with Illinois Director Ann Gillespie as secretary.
For the Western Zone, California Commissioner Ricardo Lara was elected chair. Washington Commissioner Patty Kuderer will serve as vice chair, and Nevada Commissioner Ned Gaines will hold the secretary role.
