jerome powell will learn shortly whether president joe biden wants him to continue in his current role overseeing us monetary policy as chairman of the federal reserve powell 68 is arguably more important to investors than the occupant of the white house with a calm and unflappable demeanor in a role that is both independent and apolitical a republican and former privateequity executive nominated to the fed board in 2011 by former president barack obama he has been fed chair since february 2018