Charles A. Ford
Acting Assistant Secretary for Trade Promotion and
Director General of the U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
On March 5, 2012, Charles A. Ford was named Acting Assistant Secretary/Director General, United States and Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) in the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration. He serves as the chief executive officer of the US government’s premier export promotion agency leading its domestic and overseas trade offices. In October 2010, former Ambassador Ford was appointed Deputy Director General of the USFCS.
Previously, he served as Advisor on Public Private Partnerships to the Commander of U.S. Southern Command from 2008-2009 and Ambassador to Honduras from 2005-2008. At the Commerce Department, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the USFCS, and as Director of Latin American Trade Policy in the International Trade Administration from 1990-1994. From 2003-2005, he was a Vice President of the American Foreign Service Association.
As a member of USFCS from 1982-2009, Ambassador Ford worked and lived in Latin America and Europe and is fluent in Spanish. He served as Commercial Minister at the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium; Commercial Counselor, U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela; Commercial Minister, U.S. Embassy in London, United Kingdom; Regional Director for Europe, United States and Foreign Commercial Service, Department of Commerce; Commercial Attaché, U.S. Embassy in Guatemala; Commercial Consul, U.S. Consulate in Barcelona, Spain; Commercial Attaché, U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before joining the Foreign Service, Ambassador Ford worked at the Inter-American Development bank and the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association.
Ambassador Ford was born in Dayton, Ohio. He obtained his B.A. in Economics from the College of William and Mary, and his M.A in Latin American Studies from George Washington University. His numerous honors and awards include the Department of Commerce Silver, Gold and Bronze Medals. In May, 2008, he was awarded the President’s Distinguished Service Award, and received the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Distinguished Civilian Service Award in 2009.
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