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The Maryland Economic Development Commission has been revived by Gov. Martin O'Malley after a three-year hiatus.

This week, O'Malley (D) presided over the swearing-in of the commission "at a time when private economic investment is needed most," according to a statement from his office.

The commission, created in 1995 but inactive since 2006, comprises 25 members who help shape the state's business policy, regulation and legislation. The panel is also charged with developing a 10-year strategic plan for Maryland's economy, getting ideas from businesses statewide and making recommendations to the governor on issues affecting the state's businesses.

"The Maryland Economic Development Commission will play a vital role in charting a course for Maryland's economic future," O'Malley said in a statement Tuesday. "We are fortunate to have brought together some of Maryland's greatest visionaries in science, education and business from every region of the State to undertake this important mission and I look forward to learning their recommendations for how we can best support Maryland's business community."

The commission's revival comes shortly after O'Malley created the Small Business Task Force, made up of 15 small-business owners, to advise him on issues affecting them.

Elias Zerhouni, a senior adviser for Johns Hopkins Medicine and a senior fellow at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will serve as commission chairman. Previously, he was director of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda from 2002 to this year.

Other members are Timothy Adams, founder and CEO of SA-Tech Inc.; Deepak Bansal, an information technology consultant; Richard Bernstein, president and CEO of LWRC International; Steve Dubin, CEO of Martek Biosciences; Susan Ganz, CEO of Lion Brothers; Edwin Hale Sr., chairman and CEO of 1st Mariner Bancorp; Timothy Hodge, principal at Miles and Stockbridge; Kevin Johnson, CEO of Commercial Interiors; William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland; Aris Mardirossian, CEO of Technology Patents; Ricardo Martinez, chairman and CEO of Project Enhancement Corp.; John McLaughlin, president and CEO of DAP Products; Karen Myers, president of Wisp Resort Development; Sagar Patel, president of GE Mechanical Systems; Ronald Peterson, president of Johns Hopkins Hospital; Dawn Deiter Rich, president of American Electronics; Robert Smelkinson, retired chairman of Smelkinson Sysco Food Services; Edward St. John, president of St. John Properties; Harold Stinger, chairman of Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies; Walter Tilley III, executive vice president of Home Paramount; and Alan Wilson, chairman, president and CEO of McCormick & Co.

Ex-officio members are Christian Johansson, secretary of the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development; Harold Adams, chairman emeritus of RTKL Associates; James C. Dinegar, president and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade; Donald C. Fry, president of the Greater Baltimore Committee; and Kevin F. Kelly, vice president of Van Skoyoc Associates.