The Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, or USC(IS), is a high-ranking official in the

United States Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for bus ...

and the principal advisor to the

United States Secretary of Commerce The United States secretary of commerce (SecCom) is the head of the United States Department of Commerce. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters relating to commerce. The secretary rep ...

on the export of sensitive goods and technologies. The Under Secretary is the head of the

Bureau of Industry and Security The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce that deals with issues involving national security and high technology. A principal goal for the bureau is helping stop the proliferation of weapo ...

within the Commerce Department. The Under Secretary is appointed by the

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal gove ...

with the consent of the

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and po ...

to serve at the pleasure of the President. On July 13, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that he would nominate former Department of Defense official

Alan Estevez Alan F. Estevez is an American government official who is currently serving as Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, under secretary of commerce for industry and security in the Biden administration. Education Estevez earned a ...

to the role and he was confirmed unanimously by the Senate on March 31, 2022.

Overview

The Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security is the principal staff officer of the Commerce Department responsible for advancing United States national security and foreign policy. The Under Secretary oversees the

. The Under Secretary promotes American national security objectives by ensuring an effective export control and treaty compliance system and promoting continued strategic technology leadership. This includes primary focus on

Export restrictions Export restrictions, or a restriction on exportation, are limitations on the quantity of goods exported to a specific country or countries by a Government. Export restrictions could be aimed at achieving diverse policy objectives such as environ ...

, export administration,

anti-boycott An anti-boycott, counter-boycott, or buycott is the excess buying of a particular brand or product in an attempt to counter a boycott of the same brand or product. Anti-boycott measures could also be in the form of laws and regulations adopted ...

enforcement, implementation of certain treaty requirements, defense priorities and allocations, strategic trade, and promotion of the defense-industrial base of the United States. With the rank of Under Secretary, the USC(IS) is a Level III position within the

Executive Schedule Executive Schedule () is the system of salaries given to the highest-ranked appointed officials in the executive branch of the U.S. government. The president of the United States appoints individuals to these positions, most with the advice and co ...

. Since Fiscal Year 2021, under the political appointee pay freeze, the functional annual rate of pay for Level III is $168,400.

History

The position of Under Secretary, as well as the

, was created in 1985 to move the national security and export control functions away from the

International Trade Administration : The International Trade Administration (ITA) is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that promotes United States exports of nonagricultural U.S. services and goods. Duties The ITA's stated goals are to # Provide practical inf ...

which performs trade promotion among other activities.https://www.congress.gov/99/statute/STATUTE-99/STATUTE-99-Pg120.pdf

Former Under Secretaries

File:Paul Freedenberg.jpg, Paul Freedenberg, 1988-1989 File:Dennis E. Kloske.jpg, Dennis E. Kloske, 1989-1991 File:William A. Reinsch.jpg, William A. Reinsch, 1994-2001 File:Kenneth I. Juster.jpg, Kenneth I. Juster, 2001-2005 File:US Federal Government Photo of David H. McCormick.jpg, David H. McCormick, 2005-2006 File:Mario Mancuso.jpg, Mario Mancuso, 2007-2009 File:Eric L. Hirschhorn.jpg, Eric L. Hirschhorn, 2010-2017 File:Mira R. Ricardel.jpg, Mira R. Ricardel, 2017-2018

Reporting officials

Officials reporting to the USC(IS) include: *Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security *Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration **Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration *Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement **Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement *Chief Financial Officer and Director of Administration *Chief Information Officer *Chief Counsel for Industry and Security (Office of the General Counsel)

References

External links

Under Secretary for Industry and SecurityExport Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA)
{{US-gov-stub