Colleen Litkenhaus joined USTR this week as the AUSTR for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison. Michael J. Delaney is slated to begin as AUSTR for South Asian Affairs in September.

“Colleen brings years of valuable experience that will help us communicate the benefits of international trade and US trade policies to those groups that are most affected,” Ambassador Schwab stated, adding:

“She will be a valuable part of our team effort to work with Congress to approve our pending free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea and to come to a successful conclusion of the WTO Doha negotiations.”

Ms Litkenhaus will lead domestic outreach efforts to state and local governments, the business and agricultural communities, labor, environmental and consumer groups. Her office also manages the official US trade advisory committee system.

Since May 2006, Ms. Litkenhaus has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the US and Foreign Commercial Service at the US Department of Commerce where she was responsible for managing multiple initiatives, including the domestic operations of 108 Export Assistance Centers operating in 48 states, trade promotion programs, marketing and communications, and the Trade Information Center.

Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Ms. Litkenhaus served as Special Assistant to the President for Management and Administration, and was in the White House Chief of Staff’s Office.

Ms Litkenhaus began her Washington career with Ashland Inc., in their Government Affairs Office as a Legislative Assistant. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Russian and Political Science from the University of Kentucky.

Ms Litkenhaus will be joined in a few weeks by Mr Delaney who is currently serving as Political Advisor to NATO Regional Command South, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

“I am looking forward to working with Michael who will bring a unique perspective to our trade policy with his recent experience in Afghanistan,” continued Ambassador Schwab, going on to state:

“His decades of experience in the Foreign Service – including work with USTR on free trade agreement negotiations with Australia and Thailand – will serve us well.”

Mr Delaney will be responsible for managing a staff with primary responsibility for developing
and implementing trade policy and negotiations with the South Asia region.

Mr Delaney has served approximately 26 years as a Foreign Service Officer and Economic Counselor with the US Department of State. For the previous 14 years, Mr. Delaney served as Senior Foreign Service Officer and Economic Counselor providing advice on trade and investment issues through US diplomatic missions in Australia, Finland, Portugal, Seoul and Thailand.

He has received numerous honors and awards from the Department of State, including the Charles Cobb Award; the Department’s highest commercial advocacy award.

He earned his Master’s Degree in International Relations from University of Chicago and his Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.