Obama’s ‘pay czar’ now will head JFK Library Foundation

Feinberg, who oversees the compensation of top executives at companies that have received federal bailout assistance, succeeds Senator Paul G. Kirk Jr., who resigned as chairman in September after Governor Patrick appointed him to temporarily replace the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy. Feinberg, 64, has a long resume that includes five years as an administrative assistant and chief of staff to Senator Kennedy.

The Kennedy Library Foundation’s board of directors meets three times per year, and Feinberg has served as a foundation board member for four years before being elected chairman. Board members volunteer their services and are not compensated, foundation officials said.

Feinberg is one of the leading specialists in mediation and alternative dispute resolution, and was appointed by Attorney General John D. Ashcroft to be special master of the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund, which distributed nearly $7 billion to more than 5,000 victims and families of victims of the terrorist attacks.

In recognition of his service, Senator Kennedy presented Feinberg with the Kennedy Library Foundation’s Distinguished American Award in 2004.

Three years later, Feinberg oversaw a similar fund to benefit victims’ families after the mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

In his new job as the administration’s special master for TARP Executive Compensation, Feinberg announced last month that the Treasury would slash compensation for the 25 highest-paid executives at the seven firms that received the most bailout money.

Feinberg also serves as chairman of the board of the RAND Institute of Civil Justice and is president of the Washington National Opera.

An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Feinberg had been selected as head of the JFK Library.