Profile

International trade and economic policy professional (IMF, WTO, U.S. Treasury) experienced in negotiations, representation, project leadership, and people leadership. Interested in helping to preserve and strengthen a rules-based global economy and in promoting more open, stable, and transparent trade and investment policies.

Experience

Consultant (Trade Policy) | Imf | Since October 2022

Adjunct professor | University of Maryland, M.S. Program in Applied Economics | Since january 2023

Deputy (Trade Policy), external sector Division | IMF | 2016-2022

• Deputy in office that formulates IMF policy on exchange rates, capital flows, and trade; IMF-wide lead on trade policy. Responsibilities include:

  • Advise and brief IMF Senior Management and Executive Board on global and national trade policy issues; advise country teams on trade policy content in IMF country reports; guide or lead trade policy staff participation in IMF Article IV discussions with country authorities; lead IMF-wide policy papers and presentations; bring trade policy expertise to internal discussions of other issues (e.g., tax; border carbon adjustments); lead trade-related collaboration with other organizations; conduct outreach; conceive and lead preparation of trade-related events and training.

  • With the WTO, engage with ambassadors, senior officials, and staff. Engage with senior capital-based government officials and with trade staff of other key international organizations. Represent IMF in, and make presentations to, occasional formal international meetings.

  • IMF lead on a series of high-level joint policy papers:

    • Subsidies, Trade, and International Cooperation(April 2022; IMF-OECD-WB-WTO), launched by heads of the four institutions at the IMF-WB Spring Meetings.

    • Reinvigorating Trade and Inclusive Growth(2018; IMF-WB-WTO), launched by heads of the three institutions at the Bali IMF-WB Annual Meetings.

    • Making Trade an Engine of Growth for All(2017; IMF-WB-WTO), discussed by G-20 sherpas and launched by heads of the three institutions at an event with Chancellor Merkel.

Director (USG career Senior executive Service), Office of trade & financial services negotiations | u.s. treasury | 2013 – 2016

• Led office with (i) responsibility for formulating and implementing Treasury positions on trade matters and on macroeconomic (e.g., currency) issues in the trade and investment sphere, and (ii) U.S. Government-wide lead on banking and other (non-insurance) financial services in U.S. agreements.

• Advised senior Treasury officials on trade policy matters. Served as Treasury representative on the inter-agency Trade Policy Staff Committee and led Treasury engagement on overall U.S. trade policy.  

• Key activities: Negotiations on the TPP, T-TIP, US-China BIT, and Joint Declaration of Macroeconomic Policy Authorities of TPP Countries; 2015 Trade Promotion Authority (TPA); 2015 Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act.

IMF Representative to the wto and head, Imf geneva office | IMF |  2007 – 2008

• Represented IMF in the WTO, ILO, and other Geneva-based international organizations; engaged with ambassadors and other country representatives; managed IMF overseas office.

Varied positions | IMF  |  1997 – 2013

• Negotiated currency, debt, expenditure, tax, and other aspects of IMF-supported economic programs in Africa, Europe, and Central Asia.

• Helped to develop and implement IMF policy on low-income countries and on access to concessional financing facilities.

• Conceived and led cross-departmental papers to shape IMF policy; engaged with IMF Management, Executive Directors, and capital-based officials to refine and develop support for staff proposals.

  • As an example, conceived and led the preparation of Macroeconomic Issues in Small States and Implications for the Fund, a staff paper that reinvigorated IMF thinking on engagement with small state members.

Trade policy analyst  | wto secretariat |  1993 –1996

• Prepared WTO Trade Policy Reviews, based on detailed research and engagement with national trade officials; prepared official economic analysis of the Uruguay Round using CGE analysis.

economist | USDA Economic research service  |  1989 –1993

• Prepared economic research and policy notes on agricultural trade issues.

captain, field artillery | U.s. army (reserve components)  |  1982 – 1993

• Battery Fire Direction Officer and Battalion Assistant Operations Officer in nuclear-capable and conventional cannon artillery units. (Army National Guard: Minnesota, Virginia, Wisconsin)

Education

Ph.D., International economics | 1989 | university of wisconsin-madison

B.S., economics | 1982 | bemidji (minnesota) state university

Professional Networks

• Friends of Multilateralism Group(FMG)

Awards, Clearances, Specialized Training

• S. Treasury, Meritorious Service Award; U.S. Treasury, International Affairs “Team of the Year,” 2015; U.S. Army Commendation Medal

• Held U.S. Top Secret security clearance

• Completed 3-day IMF Management Development Center (MDC) with outstanding ratings; Team Leadership skills rated “as among the best that have been seen at the MDC.”