President Trump Tap Granite State Resident for Department of Commerce Job

Richard Ashooh of New Hampshire to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Export Administration. Mr. Ashooh currently serves as the Director of Economic Partnerships at the University System of New Hampshire. Before this, he was the Executive Director of the Warren Rudman Center at the University of New Hampshire School of Law. Prior to his work in higher education, Mr. Ashooh served for over two decades as a senior executive in the aerospace industry, starting his career with Lockheed Martin and then BAE Systems. His primary focus was ensuring the success of programs that protect United States and Allied warfighters, particularly in the electronic warfare space. He has also held senior positions in corporate strategy, homeland security, and public affairs. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ashooh was a Professional Staff Member for the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, with a concentration on federal procurement policies. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire, where he met his wife, with whom he has five children. They reside in Bedford, New Hampshire.

Mr. Ashooh's background in the defense industry has a particular relevance for U.S. textile, apparel, and footwear producers. Within the U.S. industry it is widely understood that Department of Defense acquisitions of textiles and clothing are government by the Berry Amendment which requires domestic U.S. sourcing. Less well known is that the Berry Amendment applies to all funds "made available" to the Defense Department. That includes Department of Defense procurement for a Foreign Military Sale ("FMS") where the funds were provided by the customer country. For example, last month contracts were awarded to supply the Afghan military with U.S.-made apparel and footwear.