Mr. Ben Friedman, J.D. - Chief Operating Officer
Ben Friedman became the Research Foundation’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) in October 2024. As COO, Mr. Friedman plays a critical role on the RF leadership team, overseeing day-to-day RF operations and working to establish an environment that supports research and discovery across the SUNY System.
Mr. Friedman oversees execution of the RF’s core functions, including the administration of sponsored programs and technology, and directs the RF’s strategic, operational, and financial goals. He also provides essential support for the SUNY campus Presidents, Operations Managers, and other campus leaders, offering direction and oversight for initiatives and projects that support SUNY's research mission and the RF's strategic plan. Mr. Friedman is a critical strategic partner to the RF President and acts in the place of the President during the President's absence.
Prior to the RF, Mr. Friedman served as the Deputy Undersecretary for Operations (DUSO) for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In this role, Mr. Friedman acted as NOAA’s senior career official, overseeing the day-to-day management of the agency's national and international operations for oceanic and atmospheric services, research, and coastal and marine stewardship. Mr. Friedman held the position during three presidential administrations, twice serving as Acting NOAA Administrator, and was the longest-serving DUSO in NOAA’s history.
Mr. Friedman previously served as NOAA’s Deputy General Counsel, and as an assistant general counsel for the Department of Commerce, overseeing employment, labor, litigation, and oversight matters for the Department and its bureaus. Prior to NOAA, Mr. Friedman spent 16 years as a federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice, including four years in the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section and 12 years at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Mr. Friedman held numerous positions with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including serving as a Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney and managing multiple trial sections. Before joining the Justice Department, he was a clerk to Judge Pierce Lively on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Friedman is a 1989 graduate of Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in molecular biology and a 1993 graduate of Emory University Law School and the Emory School of Theology, where he earned a master's in theological studies. He is a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and later resided in the District of Columbia for over 30 years. Mr. Friedman currently lives with his wife in the New York State Capital Region.
Contact Information:
E-mail: ben.friedman@rfsuny.org