David Joel Stern (born September 22, 1942) is the commissioner (Commissioner of the NBA) of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He began his association with the NBA in 1966 as outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the leagues Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984, succeeding Larry OBrien. Stern has served on the Rutgers University Board of Overseers and currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Columbia University. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.