Christine L. Turner is Director of the Office of Executive Secretariat in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce. The Office of the Executive Secretariat is responsible for the coordination of the work of the Department internally, serving as the liaison between the Department’s bureaus and the Office of the Secretary. Her office manages the Department’s policy review and decision-making processes, coordinating the development, clearance, and submission of all documents for the Secretary’s review and approval, and serves as a point of contact and liaison for the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs and the National Security Council. Ms. Turner also oversees the Office of the Secretary’s administrative department, which is responsible for managing a $15 million budget.

Prior to joining the Commerce Department, Ms. Turner was the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. There she oversaw USTR's public outreach efforts to businesses—both large and small, labor, environmental and consumer groups, agricultural stakeholders, as well as state and local governments. She was responsible for improving the public's understanding of U.S. trade policies through education and strategic communications initiatives. She also oversaw the U.S. Trade Advisory Committee system comprised of 28 Advisory Committees whose members provided advice and guidance on trade relations with nations around the world.

From 2009-2011, Ms. Turner served at the U.S. Department of Agriculture covering foreign policy issues including agricultural trade and food security. While at USDA, she was part of the senior interagency team that developed the Obama administration’s Feed the Future Initiative to address the global challenge of food security. Prior to joining the Obama administration, she served as Counsel for Delegate Operations on the Obama for America Campaign and was Deputy Director of the 2008 Presidential Inaugural Committee. She practiced law for several years with Seward & Kissel LLP in New York City specializing in commercial and securities litigation. A native of Central Illinois, Ms. Turner has a B.A. from Tulane University, a J.D. from the University of Illinois, and a Master's in International Affairs from Columbia University.