The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) is led by a Commissioner who is nominated by the President and confirmed by the United States Senate. The Commissioner advises the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) on programs and issues affecting individuals with disabilities.
Effective January 20, 2021, Carol Dobak is delegated the authority to perform the functions and duties of the Commissioner.
Ms. Dobak also serves as the Deputy Commissioner and Director of the State Monitoring and Program Improvement Division (SMPID). In 2000, Ms. Dobak began her RSA career as a Program Specialist with responsibility for the Client Assistance Program and the Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights program. In 2004, she moved to the Office of Policy and Planning in the Office of Assistant Secretary with responsibility for RSA’s programs, and in particular, the State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services program. In 2006, Ms. Dobak became the Chief of the VR Program Unit within SMPID. In 2016, she became the Director of SMPID and later assumed the role of Acting Deputy Commissioner. Ms. Dobak entered the Senior Executive Service in 2022.