NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood Thursday recounted how values of humility, integrity, hard work, compassion and service to others have shaped his outlook and his career.

“I did not set out to dedicate my work life to financial services,” Hood said. “My first choice of a career, stemming from my time spent working as a church missionary in Africa, was to enter the ministry. As it turned out, life had other plans for me. But that urge to service I felt as a young man did point the way to my future path. Once I embarked on my banking career, I always saw our primary mission in simple terms: people helping people.

“Credit unions arose and grew not out of government fiat,” Hood said. “Instead, they grew from a grassroots movement of people who were forgotten and were being left behind. At every step, it was about the promise of people helping people. It was the promise of people working together to use their assets to invest in their communities.”

Hood spoke at a ceremonial swearing-in administered by Vice President Mike Pence at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C. The full text of his remarks is available online.

“Rodney Hood has been a leader in the financial industry for 25 years,” Pence said. “He’s dedicated his career to helping others achieve their dreams. And now, he’s stepped up to serve our country in an even bigger way by protecting consumers from harm and ensuring integrity, accountability, and transparency throughout the financial industry. President Trump promised to fight for the prosperity of all Americans, and I am confident that Rodney will help us succeed in this great task.”

President Donald J. Trump nominated Hood to the NCUA Board on January 16. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 14 and officially took office April 8. His term will expire on August 2, 2023.

Prior to rejoining the NCUA Board, where he previously served as vice chairman, Hood served as a corporate responsibility manager for JPMorgan Chase, managing national partnerships with non-profit organizations promoting financial inclusion and shared prosperity for underserved communities.

He also held the position of associate administrator of the Rural Housing Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was a member of the Board of Governors for the University of North Carolina.

Before entering public service, Hood held management positions in retail finance, commercial banking, affordable housing and community development at G.E. Capital, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Hood holds a bachelor’s degree in business, communications, and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.