By Ian Saunders, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Global Markets, Western Hemisphere, International Trade Administration Black History Month provides us an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing struggle for racial justice, and I took this time to think about my own journey as a Black man. As a native of Washington D.C., a predominantly Black city, I never expected that I would someday work in a...

By Michele Lee, Intern, Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Affairs Every February, people in the United States celebrate the achievements and history of African Americans as a part of Black History Month. Black Americans have been integral to the development and advancement of innovation in the United States, with more than 30% employed in management, business, science and arts occupations...

By James O. Wilson, Assistant Regional Director of the Midwest Regional U.S. Patent and Trademark Office I entered the Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in January of 1989. I was hired and inspired by one of the first African American female examiners in the examining corps, Mrs. Johnnie Brown. I have loved the ability to engage, support, and nurture...

Thank you, Deputy Secretary Su, for bringing us together today. Providing good jobs for ALL workers is an important conversation. We’ve lived through an historic moment. The pandemic changed our daily lives, including the way we work. American workers are seeking new skills and quality jobs, and U.S. employers are transforming how they do business. Increasing access to the new, high-quality jobs...

Joint Venture in More Than 10 Cities Will Enforce U.S. Laws Protecting U.S. Advanced Technologies from Illegal Acquisition and Use by Nation-State Adversaries Today, the Department of Justice and the Department of Commerce are launching the Disruptive Technology Strike Force. Under the leadership of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of...

The Department of Commerce recently appointed Ines Hernandez as the first-ever Counselor for Equity. In this newly created role, Hernandez will work across the Department’s 13 bureaus to institutionalize equity across all workstreams and advise senior leadership on policy design and implementation strategies that help advance the equity agenda within the Department’s programs and strategic...

By Michael Morgan, Ph.D. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Protecting lives, livelihoods, and property for all people in this country through the use of continually improving observations and predictions - that’s the essence of my job description and one I take to heart. Especially the part about...

Today, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo met virtually with the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (Committee) to welcome newly appointed members and to provide progress updates regarding Committee recommendations. Over the next three months, the Committee will work with the interagency and focus workstreams on the CHIPS Act; the Inflation Reduction Act; workforce development...