U.S. Dept. of Commerce taps Abshire for advisory committee

The U.S. Department of Commerce has appointed Associate Professor Pamela Abshire (ECE/ISR) to its new Emerging Technology and Research Advisory Committee (ETRAC). The committee will advise Commerce on the application of export controls to cutting-edge research and innovation.

Abshire is one of 24 members of the committee, which includes representatives from academia, industry, and federal government research laboratories. ETRAC is within the jurisdiction of the Department's Bureau of Industry and Security.

ETRAC will advise Commerce on identifying emerging technologies and research and development activities that may be of interest from a dual-use perspective; prioritizing new and existing controls to determine which are of greatest consequence to national security; assessing the potential impact of dual-use export control requirements on research activities; and determining the threat to national security posed by the unauthorized export of technologies.

"ETRAC will help ensure that U.S. export controls keep pace with technological developments, without stifling U.S. competitiveness, innovation, or security," said Under Secretary of Commerce Mario Mancuso. "This distinguished group brings a diversity of skills and backgrounds to the ETRAC and will provide BIS with expert advice and input on emerging technologies and research activities."

September 24, 2008