New PAC members will help advise agency and advance core mission of fostering and protecting innovation and entrepreneurship across America

WASHINGTON - The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced new membership to its Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees, composed of private-sector individuals who advise the agency on its patent and trademark operations, a press release stated by the USPTO.

New members of the USPTO’s Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) include Maria Anderson, Idris McKelvey, and Jennifer Yokoyama, while the new members of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) are Thad Chaloemtiarana, Michael Moore, and Sanjana Sharma. The new PAC members began their three-year terms last month. 

The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director, appoints committee members to serve three-year rotating terms. The committees were created through the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act statute in the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999. 

Olivia Tsai has been designated as the PPAC Chair and Henry Hadad has been designated as the PPAC Vice Chair, and Amy Hsiao as the TPAC Chair and Doug Masters as the TPAC Vice Chair. Outgoing PAC members who have fulfilled their three-year terms include Suzanne Harrison, Heidi Nebel, and Charles Duan from PPAC, and Adraea Brown, Dana Northcott, and Rodrick Enns from TPAC. 

“The Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees are vital in helping our agency advance innovation, with PAC members serving as fierce advocates for the immense value of intellectual property protection in our society and strengthening our service to all stakeholders,” said Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO Derrick Brent. “We are grateful for the passionate service of our outgoing PAC members— Suzanne, Heidi, Charles, Adraea, Dana, and Rodrick—who have all elevated the work of our PACs to new heights. I am also thrilled to welcome our new members and chairs to their esteemed positions.

Congratulations, and thank you for your service to America’s inventors and entrepreneurs.”  

“It’s an honor to serve as PPAC Chair,” said newly-appointed PPAC Chair Olivia Tsai.  “I look forward to helping advance innovation with this great team.”  

“I’m honored to serve as this year’s TPAC Chair,” said newly-appointed TPAC Chair Amy Hsiao.  “I look forward to advancing conversations that drive innovation, fuel entrepreneurship, integrate AI meaningfully, and strengthen global competitiveness.”