ISRAEL HERNANDEZ

Statesman

Israel Hernandez is the former Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service, leading a global operation of more than 1,500 trade specialists operating in 47 states and 78 countries. Mr. Hernandez was part of the Commerce Department’s core leadership team focused on International Trade, and was mandated by Congress to be the single point of U.S. government contact for trade promotion and business advocacy assistance.

In 2006, Mr. Hernandez initiated the Department’s Transformational Commercial Diplomacy Initiative, a five-year plan to align the Federal government’s commercial presence in emerging markets. Before joining the Commerce Department, Mr. Hernandez was a top aide to President George W. Bush serving as Deputy Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives and as Special Assistant to the President in Strategic Initiatives. As a principal deputy to then-Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Hernandez helped oversee the White House’s strategic planning, political affairs, public liaison, and intergovernmental affairs efforts. Mr. Hernandez also served as the White House liaison to the President’s 2004 reelection campaign.

Mr. Hernandez received a B.A. with a double major in philosophy and political science from the University of Texas and a M.P.A. from the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M with a focus on business.

Today, Mr. Hernandez is writing and focused on commerce and trade issues.