On Wednesday, April 13, Kathi Vidal was officially sworn in and began her role as the new Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Chief Judge Kimberly Moore administered the oath of office, and Vidal now assumes her position at the helm of the agency and head of its 13,000 employees. She is the second woman to be confirmed by the Senate to the position. “I am excited to join America’s innovation agency,” said Vidal, according to a USPTO press release. “This nationwide workforce of more than 13,000 employees is one of the most talented and respected the world over, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to work with them to help bring more ideas to impact, including in key technologies and through inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship.”
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