David Peters has been sworn in as assistant secretary of commerce for export enforcement at the Bureau of Industry and Security, an agency spokesperson said in an e-mail Oct. 16. Peters, who received Senate confirmation earlier this month (see 2510080002), has pledged to “aggressively” enforce U.S. export controls (see 2506130035). Separately, the State Department said Thomas DiNanno was sworn in Oct. 10 as undersecretary for arms control and international security.

Multiple Bureau of Industry and Security employees working for the agency's Western regional office were recently laid off, two people with knowledge of the situation told Export Compliance Daily. The employees, who received "reduction-in-force" notices, were mostly export control analysts, compliance specialists and outreach specialists. A BIS spokesperson didn't respond to a request for comment.

Maura Rezendes, former head of the sanctions team at A&O Shearman, has joined Sidley as a partner in the global arbitration, trade and advocacy practice, the firm announced last week. Rezendes' practice centers on "regulatory compliance advice and counseling, transactional support, investigations and enforcement" of economic sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Serena Tang, who recently left her position as a trial attorney at the Federal Maritime Commission’s Bureau of Enforcement, Investigations and Compliance (see 2509290029), is joining law firm Husch Blackwell, she announced on LinkedIn Oct. 14.

Eric Johnson left his position last week as principal deputy chief of DOJ's National Security Division, where he oversaw the agency's work on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. and other national-security-related issues, he announced on LinkedIn. Johnson had been with DOJ for close to two decades.

Matthew Napoli was sworn in Oct. 3 as the deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation at the Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration, he announced on LinkedIn. The National Nuclear Security Administration oversees certain export controls over nuclear-related items and works to strengthen "nonproliferation and arms control regimes to prevent proliferation, ensure peaceful nuclear uses, and enable verifiable nuclear reductions and limitations on nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons," according to its website.

Treasury Department official Derek Theurer has been appointed to perform the duties of deputy secretary, the agency announced Oct. 7. Michael Faulkender, who received Senate confirmation as Treasury's deputy secretary in March (see 2503270007), reportedly left the department in August.

Brian Nelson, one of the Treasury Department's top sanctions officials during the administration of Joe Biden, has joined Cooley to lead its national security practice, the law firm announced last week. Nelson previously served as Treasury's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, where he oversaw the Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Nelson will work on issues related to sanctions, export controls, national security investigations and more, the firm said.

Eric McPherson, a former senior defense trade analyst with the State Department, has joined Boeing as a senior trade controls specialist, he announced this week on LinkedIn. McPherson left the State Department in July after nearly two decades with the agency.

Matt Stiglitz has left his position as the associate director of the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network after accepting a voluntary early retirement offer, he announced on LinkedIn. Stiglitz had been with FinCEN since 2019 and previously worked at DOJ for 16 years.