26 March 2009
The Cabinet
Commerce
Secretary Gary Locke
Confirmed March 24
On February 25, President Obama selected former Washington Governor Gary Locke to be the next secretary of commerce. He was the first Chinese American to be elected governor of a state. Prior to that, he served as a state legislator.
The Department of Commerce, established 1903
Mission: Creates the conditions for economic growth and opportunity by promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, competitiveness and stewardship.
Staff: 39,000 employees
Duties: The department’s diverse responsibilities include promoting business and industry within the United States and facilitating international trade. It also conducts the U.S. Census, updates weather and atmospheric conditions through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), maintains economic statistics and houses the Patent and Trademark Office, which provides legal protection for intellectual property.
History: Originally created as the Department of Commerce and Labor in 1903, it became the Department of Commerce when a separate Labor Department was established in 1913. The department’s longest-serving secretary (7.5 years) was Herbert Hoover, a mining engineer who went on to be elected U.S. president.
International engagement: The International Trade Administration promotes trade and investment in compliance with international laws of commerce, and NOAA cooperates extensively with other national and international organizations on projects related to weather and climate.
Fun fact: The nation’s oldest public aquarium is housed in the basement of the department’s Herbert Hoover Building.
More Information: http://www.commerce.gov
