Nelson, E. Benjamin (Earl Benjamin), 1941-

<p>Senator Ben Nelson became Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) on January 18, 2013. He was selected based on his unique combination of executive, legislative and regulatory experience.</p>

<p>Prior to this appointment Senator Nelson served two-terms in the U.S. Senate representing the State of Nebraska from 2001-2013. During his tenure, he earned a reputation as a moderate who was adept at bringing his colleagues on both sides of the aisle together to find compromises on some of the biggest issues facing the country.</p>

<p>Serving on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Nelson's priorities began with safeguarding our nation's food and fuel security. He was also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, where he was a tireless champion for our nation's men and women in uniform. In addition, he served on the Senate Appropriations Committee, being a careful steward of taxpayer money while ensuring important investments were being made to grow the economy.</p>

E. BENJAMIN NELSON was born in McCook in southwestern Nebraska. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1963, a master’s degree in philosophy in 1965, and a law degree in 1970, all from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He entered law practice in 1970 and began a prominent career in insurance and politics. He was named the director of the Nebraska Department of Insurance in 1975, and he gathered political experience by serving as state campaign manager for Democratic presidential candidates in 1976 and 1980. From 1980 to 1981, Nelson served as president and chief executive officer of the Central National Insurance Group, and he served as chief of staff and executive vice president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners from 1982 to 1985. His law career continued in 1985 when Nelson joined Kennedy, Holland, DeLacy and Svoboda, one of Nebraska’s most prominent legal firms. In 1990 he was elected governor of Nebraska. When Nelson completed his second term as governor in 1998, he joined the Omaha law firm of Lamson, Dugan and Murray, where he specialized in insurance regulatory law, international trade, and energy law. He is the co-founder of Kaufman, Nelson and Pattee in Washington, D.C., a governmental affairs firm, and serves on numerous corporate boards. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2000, and he serves as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Agriculture Committee, and the Veterans Affairs Committee.

NELSON, Earl Benjamin (Ben), a Senator from Nebraska; born on May 17, 1941, in McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska; graduated University of Nebraska, Lincoln 1963, Masters 1965, J.D. 1970; attorney and insurance executive; director, Nebraska Department of Insurance 1975-1976; governor of Nebraska 1991-1999; elected to the United States Senate in 2000, and again in 2006, and served from January 3, 2001, to January 3, 2013; was not a candidate for reelection to the Senate in 2012.

<p>Earl Benjamin Nelson (born May 17, 1941) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served as the 37th governor of Nebraska from 1991 to 1999 and as a United States Senator from Nebraska from 2001 to 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party.</p>

<p>Nelson was an insurance executive before he entered politics. His first run for office was in 1990, when he narrowly defeated incumbent Republican Governor Kay Orr. He was reelected by a landslide in 1994. He ran for an open U.S. Senate seat in 1996, losing in an upset to Republican Chuck Hagel. He was elected to Nebraska's other Senate seat in 2000, and reelected in 2006. He did not run for a third term and left the Senate in 2013, and was succeeded by Republican Deb Fischer.</p>

<p>Nelson was one of the most conservative Democrats in the Senate, frequently voting against his party.</p>