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@mail.doc.gov

Stephanie Dabney – Secretary
email: Stephanie.Dabney@mail.doc.gov

Tonya Finton – International Trade Specialist
email: Tonya.Finton@mail.doc.gov

AEROSPACE TEAM

Vacant – Aerospace Team Leader

Jonathan Alvear -
Lead on aviation security, airport infrastructure, and avionics
email: Jonathan.Alvear@mail.doc.gov

Fred Elliot
Lead on large civil aircraft
Lead on plastics and composites use in aerospace
Monitors competiveness and subsidies issues
email: Fred.Elliott@mail.doc.gov

Ronald Green
Prepares critical data and economic analysis essential for trade negotiations and policy development.
Miscellaneous Tariff Bills (MTBs) and Committee on Foreign Investment in United States (CFIUS) reviews.
Lead on rotorcraft
email: Ronald.Green@mail.doc.gov

Alexis Haakensen
Aircraft finance
Lead on general aviation aircraft and regional jets
Lead on aeronautics issues in China
email: Alexis.Haakensen@mail.doc.gov

Kit Rudd
Lead on aircraft engine and parts
Lead on aeronautics issues in India and Russia
email: Kit.Rudd@mail.doc.gov

Kim Wells
Space launch, space products
Remote sensing
email: Kim.Wells@mail.doc.gov

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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@mail.doc.gov

Elizabeth Couch
Monitors auto parts industry issues in Europe, the ASEAN region, and China.
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@mail.doc.gov

Scott Kennedy
NAFTA and Security and Prosperity Partnership
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
Airbus/Boeing cases at WTO
email: Scott.Kennedy@mail.doc.gov

James R. McElroy
Lead officer on automotive parts issues with Japan/Framework talks.
Lead officer on auto parts remanufacturing industry issues.
Lead auto parts officer on the G-8 3Rs Initiative (Reduce waste, Reuse and Recycle).
Review Foreign Trade Zone applications for Foreign Trade Zone Board.
Monitors auto parts industry development in Korea and India.
email: James.Mcelroy@mail.doc.gov

Elena Mikalis
Lead officer on Standards.
Monitors technological innovations.
Monitors ASEAN countries.
Monitors aeronautic issues in Vietnam.
email: Elena.Mikalis@mail.doc.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 the monthly trade data on auto parts trade with key trading partners.
Lead author on the U.S. Automotive Parts Industry Annual Assessment.
Miscellaneous Tariff Bills (MTBs) and Committee on Foreign Investment in United States (CFIUS) reviews.
Monitors auto parts industry in Russia and Eastern Europe.
email: Forrest.Nielsen@mail.doc.gov

Andy Parris
Geographic responsibility for 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@mail.doc.gov

Todd Peterson
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@mail.doc.gov

Joanne Roberson
Geographic responsibility for Latin America and Western Europe [EU].
Team lead on Regulatory Issues and FTAA negotiations.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues.
Maintains motor vehicle industry production data base.
email: Joanne.Roberson@mail.doc.gov

Jeffrey Williams
CAFE/Climate Change.
Health Reform.
Tort Reform and Tax Policy.
Trade Barriers Report.
email: Jeffrey.Williams@mail.doc.gov

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MACHINERY TEAM

Jerry Morse - Machinery Team Leader
Senior Policy Advisor
Supervisory Team Leader
Assists the Office Director on all managerial and administrative functions
MDCP – Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America
email: Jerry.Morse@mail.doc.gov

Edward Abrahams
Hand and Edge Tools
Saw Blades and Hand Tools
Power-Driven Hand Tools
Rolling Mill Machinery
Woodworking Equipment
Paper Industries Machinery
Railway Equipment
Electrical Equipment
email: Edward.Abrahams@mail.doc.gov

Leonard Heimowitz
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
email: Leonard.Heimowitz@mail.doc.gov

Dawn Kawasaki
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@mail.doc.gov

Richard Reise
Printing, Publishing & Converting Technologies and Equipment
Plastics Production Equipment
Rubber Production Equipment
Chemical Production Equipment
Glass Making Equipment
General Components
-- Gaskets
-- Screw Machine Products
-- Bolts, Nuts, Rivets, Washers
-- Steel Springs
-- Industrial Valves
-- Valves & Pipe Fittings
-- Pumps & Pumping Equipment
-- Fluid power pumps and motors
-- Ball & Roller Bearings
-- Speed Changers, Drives & Gears
DFO, ITAC 2
email: Richard.Reise@mail.doc.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@mail.doc.gov

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