President Obama nominated two Senate Banking Committee aides Thursday night, one from each party, to fill upcoming vacancies on the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Both won immediate praise from Investment Adviser Association Executive Director David Tittsworth.

Republican Michael Piwowar, slated to fill the spot of Troy Paredes whose term expires in June, was lauded as an outstanding choice by Tittsworth. Piwowar, an economist currently on the staff of Banking Committee Ranking Republican Mike Crapo of Idaho, has private experience as well.

Barbara Roper, Consumer Federation of America investor protection director and SEC investor advisory committee member, said Piwowar is intelligent, substantive, straightforward and open-minded, although she has significant ideological differences with him.

Democrat Kara Stein, chosen to replace outgoing Commissioner Elisse Walter, is a securities lawyer experienced in a broad array of relevant issues, said Tittsworth.  Stein is on the staff of Senate Banking Committee Democrat Jack Reed of Rhode Island.

If the two are confirmed, as expected, the five-member commission would have gained a majority of new members since the first of the year. The turnover started with the replacement of Mary Schapiro as SEC Chairman by Mary Jo White.