The Senate on Thursday confirmed Jeffrey Kessler, a partner at international law firm WilmerHale, as under secretary of commerce for industry and security in a 54-45 vote.

In this capacity, he will lead the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which advances national security, economic objectives and foreign policy by fostering U.S. strategic technology leadership and ensuring an export control and treaty compliance system.

Return to Commerce Department

Kessler’s Senate confirmation for the under secretary role marks his return to the department.

During President Trump’s first term, he served as assistant secretary of commerce for enforcement and compliance for two years. In this role, he oversaw efforts to ensure foreign compliance with trade agreements, enforce U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws and support the implementation and negotiation of international trade agreements to open foreign markets, among other responsibilities.

Kessler’s Career Highlights

Kessler most recently served as a partner within WilmerHale’s international trade practice.

At the firm, he represented U.S. manufacturers in trade remedy cases, including those associated with chemicals and plastics products, softwood lumber and fertilizer products. He also advised clients on sanctions and export controls, Section 301 tariffs and exclusions and other trade issues.

The Yale University graduate first joined WilmerHale in 2011 as a counsel.

“We congratulate Jeff on his confirmation to this critical role in US trade policy at a time when the complexities and challenges in international trade have rarely been greater,” said Anjan Sahni, WilmerHale’s managing partner. “Our clients and our firm greatly benefited from Jeff’s wisdom and deeply informed insights. We wish him great success in his new role as he serves the nation.”

Kessler holds a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Chicago and a juris doctor and master’s degree in economics from Stanford University.

President Donald Trump has nominated Eric Ueland, who had served as the White House legislative affairs director during the first Trump administration, as deputy director for management at the Office of Management and Budget. With the Senate yet to confirm the nomination, Ueland’s LinkedIn profile indicates he is now acting OMB chief of staff.

Ueland’s Government Service Credentials

Ueland is among the 50 nominees that the White House sent to the Senate Tuesday. He had previously served for over four years as the Republican Party’s staff director in the Senate’s budget committee.

His work in the first Trump administration also included serving as undersecretary of state civilian security, democracy and human rights and as director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Assistance. He also had a stint as senior strategy officer in the U.S. foreign aid agency Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Ueland’s career in government service is built upon working in various capacities in the Senate for 18 years starting in 1989. His professional experience also includes working for over six years as the vice president of the lobbying private firm, The Duberstein Group.

If Senate confirms his nomination, Ueland will replace Jason Miller, who served as OMB deputy director for management for four years under the Biden administration. 

President Donald Trump has nominated Aaron Lukas, a more than two-decade foreign policy and national security official, to serve as principal deputy director of national intelligence.

The Senate Select Intelligence Committee received Lukas’ nomination for the position at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Monday.

Aaron Lukas’ Career Background

Lukas has been serving as a foreign service officer at the State Department for over 21 years.

During Trump’s first term, he was deputy senior director for Europe and Russia at the White House National Security Council.

Prior to joining the White House, he served as chief speechwriter and strategic adviser at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

He spent six years as a policy analyst at the libertarian think tank Cato Institute and served as director of the Prague Office for Students for Central & Eastern Europe for two years.

The Texas A&M University political science and economics graduate has a master’s degree in international relations and affairs from the George Washington University.

President Donald Trump has officially nominated Michael Obadal to serve as the next under secretary of the U.S. Army. The White House said Tuesday that it has submitted Obadal’s nomination to the U.S. Senate for confirmation. 

Who Is Michael Obadal?

Obadal is a retired Army colonel who currently serves as senior director at Anduril Industries, a defense company providing advanced technologies to the U.S. and its allies. In December, Anduril secured a $100 million contract from the Department of Defense’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office to develop a tactical data mesh system in support of the Open Data and Applications Government-owned Interoperable Repositories, or Open DAGIR, program. 

Before Anduril, Obadal served at the U.S. Army for over 27 years. According to his profile on the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, he started his military career as an attack helicopter officer and was appointed task force leader for Army Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command.

Obadal holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the Virginia Military Institute and earned his master’s degree in national security policy from the U.S. Naval War College.