Mark Dallas, a Union College professor of political science, Asian studies and technology, has joined the Bureau of Industry and Security on temporary assignment as a senior adviser, he announced last week on LinkedIn. While on leave from his teaching job, Dallas said he will work on China export controls and provide “support” in the agency’s Office of Technology Evaluation on “cutting-edge technology R&D in US, China and Europe.” Dallas, who is also a China fellow with the Wilson Center, also will help with issues involving “emerging commercial technologies.”

USDA this month announced its roster of 55 industry officials who will serve across seven agricultural trade advisory committees (ATAC) until 2028. The groups help advise both USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on trade policy or provide technical advice and guidance “from the perspective of their specific product sectors,” the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service said in a press release. The groups include the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee as well as committees focusing on animals and animal products; fruits and vegetables; grains and seeds; processed foods; sweeteners and sweetener products; and tobacco, cotton, peanuts and hemp.

The State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls this week announced its roster of members for the 2024-2026 term of the Defense Trade Advisory Group. The DTAG, which offers recommendations to DDTC about defense export control issues, recently suggested improvements to the government's foreign military sales program (see 2310130032).

Alex Parets, a former senior sanctions policy adviser with the Treasury Department, has joined the Center for Strategic and International Studies as a nonresident senior associate, Parets announced on LinkedIn. Parets left Treasury last year to join Capital One as head of enterprise screening and sanctions risk management.

Blake Hulnick, former attorney-adviser in the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s chief counsel office, was named senior adviser to the Treasury Department’s general counsel, he announced on LinkedIn. Hulnick joined Treasury in 2023.

Brian Nelson, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, is leaving the agency to join the presidential campaign of Vice President Kamala Harrris, Axios reported last week. A Treasury spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment, but confirmed on LinkedIn that Nelson is being replaced by Brad Smith, the current director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control, on an acting basis.

Katarina Caretto O'Regan, a Treasury Department senior sanctions policy adviser, began a temporary assignment as senior adviser to Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, she announced on LinkedIn. O'Regan has been a sanctions policy adviser at Treasury since March 2022.

Defense Security Cooperation Agency Director James Hursch retired July 31, the agency announced. Hursch was named director in January 2022, overseeing the agency as it worked on a range of foreign military sales as well as weapons support for Ukraine. DSCA Deputy Director Michael Miller, who previously led the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (see 2212120004), was named acting director.

The Bureau of Industry and Security promoted Tracy Patts to be the agency’s assistant director of the International Operations Division within the Office of Enforcement Analysis, Patts announced on LinkedIn this week. Patts has been at BIS since 2010 and mostly worked as a senior export policy analyst.

Erik Woodhouse left his position at the State Department as deputy assistant secretary for counter threat finance and sanctions, he announced on LinkedIn July 30. Woodhouse, who was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve in the role (see 2309050090), led the State Department's Office of Sanctions Coordination. He said he’s now “taking a break and planning my next move” after working for the agency since 2021.