Department of Commerce

Bio, via U.S. Patent and Trademark Office via Internet Archive:

Brendan McCommas is the Acting Chief of Staff for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He previously served as a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Commerce and Senior Advisor to the Director of the USPTO. He also served as a patent examiner in Technology Center 2600. As the Director’s principal advisor, the Chief of Staff helps coordinate a $3.2B budget, in support of the bureau’s 12,000 employees to execute the daily operations, policies, priorities, and global communications of the President’s intellectual property agenda. In addition, the Chief of Staff manages the day-to-day policy coordination process with the White House, Department of Commerce, and other federal agencies. Earlier in his career, Mr. McCommas was an Associate at Bracewell LLP in Houston, Texas, where he focused on intellectual property litigation, patent prosecution, and tech transactions. While in Houston he participated in the Houston Bar Association’s Pro Bono Legal Lines and Veterans Clinic, along with representing underserved communities before the USPTO and in various legal matters. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Grove City College, an M.A. in English from Georgetown University, and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was on the editorial board of the Virginia Journal of Law and Technology.

Bio, via Alliance for American Manufacturing via Internet Archive:

Journalist, the founder and publisher of Manufacturing & Technology News. McCormack also served as the editor of the 2013 book on revitalizing manufacturing, ReMaking America.

Bio, via Office of Space Commerce:

Mr. O’Connell brings over 35 years of experience in the U.S. government, in research organizations, and as an entrepreneur and business leader to this position. Mr. O’Connell has researched and written extensively on the policy, security, and global market issues related to commercialization of remote sensing. Aside from numerous articles and op-eds, he was co-author of Commercial Observation Satellites: at the Leading Edge of Global Transparency (2000). He served as the Executive Secretary and Staff Director of the NIMA Commission (1999-2000). He was a member, and later Chair, of NOAA’s federal advisory committee on remote sensing from 2002-2016. Previously, Mr. O’Connell served as the CEO of Innovative Analytics and Training, a Washington, D.C. professional services firm focused on analysis and decision support for U.S. government and commercial clients. Among other issues, the firm focused on market trends and anticipatory/futures analysis for high-technology industries such as cyber, cloud computing, and geospatial technologies. During this time, he also served as a senior consultant to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and as an independent advisor to the Director, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency. Mr. O’Connell’s background also includes extensive experience in national security and intelligence matters, including assignments in the Department of Defense, Department of State, National Security Council, and the Office of the Vice President. He spent a decade conducting and managing research in these areas at the RAND Corporation, including as the first director of RAND’s Intelligence Policy Center. Finally, Mr. O’Connell has taught a long-running course on comparative intelligence in Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, Security Studies Program.

Bio, via National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via Internet Archive:

Oliver most recently served as Executive Director of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, a position he held for the past 16 years. He has been with the Council since 1990, also serving as a fisheries biologist and then deputy director. During his tenure as executive director he led the way on several cutting edge management initiatives, including development of limited access privilege programs and fishery cooperatives and catch share programs, the North Pacific’s comprehensive onboard observer program, numerous bycatch reduction programs, extensive habitat protection measures, commercial and recreational allocation programs, and coastal community development programs. He was also responsible for all administrative and operational aspects of the Council process, and lead staffer for legislative and international issues.

Bio, via LinkedIn:

Experienced Project Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in government and non-profits. Results-driven go-getter with a can-do attitude. Strong program and project management professional with a B.A. focused in International Studies and Law & Society from American University.