Amanda Wood Laihow

A Maine native, Laihow earned an B.A. in political science degree from the University of New Hampshire.[1] She completed a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law.[1]

Laihow was the assistant general counsel at the General Services Administration.[1] She later served as the deputy general counsel for the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.[1] She served as the director of labor and employment policy for the National Association of Manufacturers, where she advocated for labor issues including those pertaining to employee health and safety under the Occupational Safety and Health Act.[1]  

Laihow joined the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC) as the chief counsel to chairman James J. Sullivan, serving as his primary legal advisor on all agency matters.[1] In 2019, Laihow as nominated by U.S. president Donald Trump to complete Heather MacDougall's term on the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.[2] Her nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 9, 2020.[1] Her term expired on April 27, 2023.[3] In July 2023, U.S. president Joe Biden renominated Laihow, a Republican, to serve as a member of the OSHRC.[4][5]

As of July 2023, Laihow resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband and two daughters.[4]