William Evan Kovacic (born 1952) is an American legal scholar who served as a commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from 2006 to 2011, including as its chairman from 2008 to 2009. He is a member of the Republican Party.[1]
From 1979 to 1983, Kovacic served as a staffer within the FTC, first within the Bureau of Competition's Planning Office and later as an attorney and advisor to then-Commissioner George W. Douglas. After leaving the FTC in 1983, Kovacic became an associate at the Washington, D.C., office of international law firm Bryan Cave. At Bryan Cave, Kovacic practiced in the firm's antitrust and government contracts departments.
In 1986, Kovacic joined the faculty of the George Mason University Law School (now Antonin Scalia Law School), where he taught antitrust law.[5] In 1999, Kovacic became E.K. Gubin Professor of Government Contracts Law at George Washington University (GWU) Law School. In 2001, Kovacic rejoined the FTC's staff as the agency's general counsel, serving until 2004.
In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Kovacic to replace Orson Swindle as a member of the FTC.[6] On March 30, 2008, Kovacic was designated by Bush to serve as FTC Chair,[7] replacing Deborah Platt Majoras.[8] Following the election of Democrat Barack Obama, he was replaced in this capacity after less than a year in office. On March 2, 2009, Democrat Jon Leibowitz replaced him as FTC Chair.
Following his term at the FTC, Kovacic returned to the GWU Law School where he teaches antitrust, contracts, and government contracts. Kovacic currently serves as the Director of the Competition Law Center at GWU Law School.[2]