By Zakera Ahmed, New York Regional Office Program Manager, U.S. Census Bureau My love for and pride in public service came from watching my father, Badaruddin Ahmed, serve as a government official in Bangladesh. From the time I was a young child, I saw the respect he received from the community and learned the importance of civic duty. I knew I wanted to serve in the U.S. government since moving...

By Deborah Stephens, Deputy Chief Information Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office My name is Debbie Stephens, and I am the Deputy Chief Information Officer (DCIO) for the Commerce Department’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). I have served at the USPTO for over 30 years in multiple leadership roles, during which I have worked to improve the automated tools and informational...

By U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo The Department of Commerce has one overarching goal: To improve America’s economic competitiveness so that our workers and our companies succeed in the global economy. And Women’s History Month is a great time to showcase the achievements of women scientists, entrepreneurs, inventors, educators, and many others who have contributed to that goal and...

You may not know the woman at the helm of the U.S. response to the crisis in Ukraine. Through her outspoken advocacy for her team at the Bureau of Industry and Security and her definitive leadership in the face of geopolitical crisis, Assistant Secretary for Export Administration Thea Kendler intends to change that. Since assuming office last December, Ms. Kendler has served as the policy leader...

Women have long been a key contributor to the collection of data that is so critical to measuring the pulse of our nation. Census data reflect the growth of the population as well as the changing values and interests of the American people. In honor of Women’s History Month, the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau has featured one such woman who was a pioneer in demographic research and left...

By Lisa Casias, Deputy CEO, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Working with strong female leaders has been a highlight of my career at the U.S. Department of Commerce. I’ve been enriched personally and professionally by the unique perspectives and experiences of these women. At the FirstNet Authority, we are privileged to be led by many women who bring ingenuity, diversity...

In honor of Women’s History Month, and as part of its efforts to protect and promote the ingenuity of American inventors and entrepreneurs, the Department of Commerce’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is proud to share some inspiring stories of notable women innovators who have made lasting contributions to our nation’s history, economy, and way of life. We highlight these incredible...

Thousands of women at the Department of Commerce make a difference in the lives of Americans every day: fostering economic growth and American competitiveness, making the country ready for and resilient to climate change, and leveraging data to discover solutions to some of our most pressing challenges. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we recognize the achievements of female pioneers in...

The following is a cross-post from the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration When women trade, women succeed economically. With 95 percent of world consumers and 80 percent of world purchasing power outside of the United States, international trade is an untapped resource for women-owned businesses. Women-owned companies that trade and export earn more, create more jobs, stay in...

Cross-post by the U.S. Census Bureau National Women’s History Month traces its roots to March 8, 1857, when women from various New York City factories staged a protest over poor working conditions. The first Women's Day celebration in the United States was in 1909, also in New York City. More than seven decades later, Congress in 1981 established National Women's History Week to be commemorated...