James Firman MBA, EdD

For more than 35 years, James Firman, EdD, has been a leading force for innovation in services, programs, and public policies for older adults. Under his leadership, NCOA has developed many nationally acclaimed programs to improve the health, independence, and economic security of older Americans. NCOA also has built core competencies in collaborative leadership, fostering and scaling evidence-based innovations, and advocacy.

Since becoming president and CEO in January 1995, Firman has led NCOA to become the national leader in benefits access, economic security, falls prevention, evidence-based healthy aging programs, and public policy for older adults, especially those who are struggling. In recent years, Firman created and launched NCOA’s Aging Mastery Program, an innovative effort to develop new expectations, norms, and pathways for people to make the most of their gift of longevity.

Prior to joining NCOA, Firman was founder and CEO of the United Seniors Health Cooperative (USHC), a nonprofit consumer organization. At USHC, he directed the development of the early version of BenefitsCheckUp, now one of NCOA’s core bodies of work.