Eric P. Zahren
President, Board Chair, Carnegie Hero Fund Commission
Eric P. Zahren currently serves as President and Board Chair of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, Andrew Carnegie’s Pittsburgh-based foundation that recognizes civilian heroism throughout the United States and Canada. Upon his election as Board Chair in June 2022 he became the first in the Commission’s long history to serve jointly in both roles. He has served as the Hero Fund’s President since June 30, 2017 after having joined the Commission’s staff in 2016 as Executive Director. He has been a member of the Commission’s board since September, 2015.
Mr. Zahren retired from the US Secret Service in May, 2016 following a 25-year career as a Special Agent. He served as Special Agent in Charge (SAIC) of the Pittsburgh Field Office from 2010 until his retirement. As SAIC, Mr. Zahren was responsible for the oversight of all Secret Service protective activities and criminal investigations throughout Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Past assignments include the Newark Field Office, Presidential Protective Division (President William J. Clinton and President George W. Bush), supervisory assignments as Resident Agent in Charge/Attaché in Berlin, Germany, as Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Government and Public Affairs, and as Special Agent in Charge of the International Programs Division.
A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of London, Mr. Zahren also conducted studies at Duisburg-Essen University, Germany.
The Hero Fund, established by Carnegie in 1904, has awarded the Carnegie Medal to over 10,000 individuals in recognition of their outstanding heroism, defined by the Commission as acts of lifesaving done at extraordinary risk to the rescuer. Grants totaling more than $44 million have been given to awardees or their survivors and include scholarship aid, continuing assistance, and death benefits.
To me, Eradicate Hate was the most important gathering of 2021 for those of us who work on issues related to domestic extremism and organized hate. The Summit uniquely combined a variety of perspectives, including experts, civil society representatives, politicians and policymakers, and the families and loved ones of victims. Eradicate Hate has the important mission of standing against the rising tide of hate and extremism in our society, and it’s an honor to be able to support this mission.
