Karen Welch

Director, International Affairs Division (IAD)

Karen Welch was appointed Director of the International Affairs Division (IAD) of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), effective on June 25, 2017. Prior to her appointment, Karen was the Acting Director of IAD since March 3, 2017.

Karen arrived at TTB in 2008 through the Presidential Management Fellows Program, and soon became the Program Manager for International Issues.  In addition to carrying out her Program Manager duties, Karen was also splitting her time with the Regulations and Rulings Division.

While at TTB, Karen has managed Bureau activities relating to the European Union and its Member States, and coordinated Bureau activities relating to the World Wine Trade Group as well as negotiations on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and Trans-Pacific Partnership.  In her time at TTB, she has frequently provided technical advice concerning the impact of international agreements on Bureau regulations.

Karen has a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from American University School of International Service and a Juris Doctor degree from American University Washington College of Law.  Her undergraduate degree in International Relations and History is from Boston University, where she graduated magna cum laude.