It looks as though CFTC chairman nominee Timothy Massad will be approved by the Senate, after dispelling any doubt about his commitment and experience at a hearing in Washington yesterday.

The Senate was initially unsure about President Obama’s choice in replacement for Gary Gensler, based on a lack of experience in many of the areas the CFTC regulates. However, after discussing his relevant experience and vowing to uphold a strong enforcement program, it seems the Senate has found no reason to doubt the CFTC chairman nominee.

Massad, having recently lead the unwinding of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), feels that this, along with his time as a corporate finance attorney, has given him enough experience with regulation and derivatives to be able to handle the responsibilities of the CFTC position.

Massad will be replacing Gary Gensler as the new CFTC chairman. While Gensler spent his time as chairman putting a large portion of the rules instituted by the Dodd-Frank Act into play, it seems Massad’s time will be spent enforcing these rules.

Massad was one of several CFTC nominees to speak on their experience in front of the Senate yesterday, being joined by Sharon Bowen and J. Christopher Giancarlo, who also seem likely to be approved.

Should all three be approved, the CFTC will have a full staff in terms of commissioners once again, as the commission is currently operating with only three of the five it requires.