Subject: File No. DF Title IX - Investor Advocate
From: Tom Ward
Affiliation: Ombudsman for Staff, Clemson University

September 29, 2010

I strongly encourage decision makers for the creation of the SEC "Investor Advocate" role to carefully consider the merits of basing this role on that of the organizational Ombudsman model with its existing standards of practice, code of ethics and guidelines. I recommend that this role not only provide service to the public, as required, but also to serve the SEC workforce.