WASHINGTON — NCUA Board Member Rick Metsger told his NAFCU Congressional Caucus audience Monday that he will embrace changes in the consumer marketplace, recognizing that means the NCUA may have to change along with it.

In his first public speaking engagement since taking office, he told nearly 400 attendees at the Mayflower Hotel that he also will fight changes at the NCUA that are rogue in nature or prevent credit unions from serving their members.

The former teacher and broadcast journalist, who said he once hiked the hill as a credit union board member in support of H.R. 1151, said his experience in the Oregon State Senate provided him with a spirit of bipartisan deal-making the Democrat said he will bring to the agency.

He agreed with Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) who spoke before him and said elected officials and Americans need to get out of their political foxholes to put the country before the ambitions of major political parties.

“Senator Warner was right,” Metsger said. “The outcome is more important than my dialogue.”

The new board member said he believes in the credit union common bond and asked his audience to serve as a common bond between their members and the NCUA, to preserve consumers' faith and trust in the credit union system.

Metsger also said his top priority on the NCUA Board would be to protect the share insurance fund and manage it efficiently.

Metsger was confirmed by the Senate Aug. 1 and was sworn in Aug. 23. He succeeds former NCUA Board Member Gigi Hyland who left the board in October 2012 after serving more than a year beyond her term's expiration.

The NAFCU Congressional Caucus continues through Wednesday.