Office of Transportation and Machinery

Room 4036
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, DC 20230-0001
202-482-0554

FRONT OFFICE

AEROSPACE TEAM

AUTOMOTIVE TEAM

MACHINERY TEAM

FRONT OFFICE

Henry Misisco—Office Director
email: Henry.Misisco@trade.gov

Stephanie Dabney—Secretary
email: Stephanie.Dabney@trade.gov

Tonya Finton—International Trade Specialist
email: Tonya.Finton@trade.gov

AEROSPACE TEAM

Aerospace Team Leader—vacant

Jonathan Alvear
Lead on aviation security, airport infrastructure, and avionics
Prepares critical data and economic analysis essential for trade negotiations and policy development .
email: Jonathan.Alvear@trade.gov
202-482-4125

Jonathan Chesebro
Lead on aeronautical research and development policy, unmanned aerial systems, rotorcraft
Lead on aeronautics issues in South Korea, Turkey, India, Middle East and Africa
Aerospace industry trends and analysis
email: Jonathan.Chesebro@trade.gov
202-482-4125

Fred Elliot
Lead on large civil aircraft
Lead on plastics and composites use in aerospace
Monitors competiveness and subsidies issues
email: Fred.Elliott@trade.gov
202-482-1233

Alexis Haakensen
Aircraft finance
Lead on general aviation aircraft and regional jets
Lead on aeronautics issues in China
email: Alexis.Haakensen@trade.gov
202-482-6235

Kit Rudd
Lead on aircraft engine and parts
Lead on aeronautics issues in India and Russia
email: Kit.Rudd@trade.gov
202-482-1385

Kim Wells
Space launch, space products
Remote sensing
email: Kim.Wells@trade.gov
202-482-2232

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AUTOMOTIVE TEAM

Thomas Sobotta—Automotive Team Leader
Senior Policy Advisor
Assists the Office Director on all managerial and administrative functions
Coordinates USG policy development and implementation for U.S.-Japan automotive issues
email: Thomas.Sobotta@trade.gov

Elizabeth Couch
Monitors auto parts industry issues in Europe, China, and Middle East.
Serves as the office's contact for automotive-related counterfeiting issues.
Automotive-related Worker Education/Training issues.
Provides industry input for Commerce's automotive-related trade promotion events, such as Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week.
email: Elizabeth.Couch@trade.gov

Scott Kennedy
NAFTA
U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement and the 1998 U.S.-Republic of Korea Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding Foreign Motor Vehicles
Motor vehicles lead on WTO
email: Scott.Kennedy@trade.gov

Elena Mikalis
Lead Officer in Standards
Monitors technological innovations in auto industry
Monitors ASEAN countries and backstops Europe and Latin America
Backstops Regulatory Issues and U.S. EPA issues
Maintains U.S. Motor Vehicle Production Data Base
email: Elena.Mikalis@trade.gov

Forrest Nielsen
Prepares critical data and economic analysis essential for trade negotiations and policy development.
Designated Federal Officer for the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Automotive Equipment and Capital Goods (ITAC-2).
Prepares quarterly data on auto parts trade with key trading partners.
Lead on the U.S. Automotive Parts Industry Annual Assessment.
Analyst on Miscellaneous Tariff Bills (MTBs) on automotive equipment and Committee on Foreign Investment in United States (CFIUS) reports dealing with automotive cases.
Monitors auto parts industry in Russia.
Assisting Machinery Team on Ag Equipment National Export Initiative.
Research on Packaging Materials Industry and on Irrigation Equipment.
email: Forrest.Nielsen@trade.gov

Andy Parris
Lead officer on auto parts remanufacturing industry issues.
Geographic responsibility for automotive industry developments in Central and South America and auto parts industry developments in Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.
Lead analyst for North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) auto parts trade issues.
Lead auto parts analyst in Western Hemisphere free trade agreement negotiations.
Regulatory review team member.
Team lead for alternative fuels and fuel economy related technologies.
email: Andy.Parris@trade.gov

Todd Peterson
Lead officer on automotive parts issues with Japan/Framework talks.
Japan and U.S.-Japan Automotive Consultative Group
Additional geographic responsibility for China, Russia, the NIS and India
Division's Quickfacts Coordinator
Primary analyst for APEC Automotive Dialogue
email: Todd.Peterson@trade.gov

Joanne Roberson
Backstop Officer in Standards
Monitors technological innovations in auto industry
Monitors Europe and Latin America and backstops ASEAN
Monitors Regulatory Issues and U.S. EPA issues
Maintains U.S. Motor Vehicle Production Data Base
email: Joanne.Roberson@trade.gov

Jeffrey Williams
Geographic responsibility for India.
CAFE/Climate Change.
Health Reform.
Tort Reform and Tax Policy.
Trade Barriers Report.
email: Jeffrey.Williams@trade.gov

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MACHINERY TEAM

Vacant—Machinery Team Leader
Senior Policy Advisor
Supervisory Team Leader
Assists the Office Director on all managerial and administrative functions

Vacant
Construction Equipment
Mining Machinery
Used & Re-Manufactured Machinery
Materials Handling Equipment
-- Elevators & Moving Stairways
-- Conveyors & Conveying Equipment
-- Overhead Cranes, Hoists & Monorail Systems
-- Industrial Trucks, Trailers & Stackers
Diesel Engines
Printing, Publishing & Converting Technologies and Equipment

Dawn Kawasaki
Plastics Production Equipment
Metalworking Equipment/Machine Tools
Industrial Molds
Special Dies, Tools, Jigs & Fixtures
Robotics (Manufacturing 2040)
Welding Apparatus
Soldering Equipment
Job Shops
Machinery Team Standards Coordinator
Machinery Team Web Site Coordinator
email: Dawn.Kawasaki@trade.gov

Padraic Sweeney
Agribusiness Equipment
Food Processing Equipment
Packaging Machinery
Hotel & Restaurant Equipment
Textile Machinery
MDCP – North Dakota Trade Office
MDCP – International Center for Water Technology
email: Padraic.Sweeney@trade.gov

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