Akin Gump hired Kevin Wolf as a partner in its international trade practice, the law firm said (here). Wolf previously was assistant secretary of Commerce for Export Administration.

Former Department of Homeland Secretary Jeh Johnson rejoined Paul Weiss as a partner in the firm's litigation department, it said in a news release (here). Johnson had several stints at Paul Weiss in between his government work.

Kelley Drye hired Christian Marsh, previously deputy assistant secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations at the Commerce Department, as executive director for the law firm's economic consulting subsidiary, Georgetown Economic Services, a news release said (here). Marsh was "head of the International Trade Administration unit responsible for enforcing U.S. trade laws" and helped with the drafting of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, the firm said.

Former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will join the U.S. Dairy Export Council as CEO as of Feb. 1, the trade group said in a Jan. 17 news release (here). Vilsack stepped down from the USDA on Jan. 13 (here). "The global dairy market is more competitive today than ever," said Thomas Gallagher, CEO of Dairy Management Inc., the umbrella group of which the U.S. Dairy Export Council is part. "Ambitious trade agreements, reasonable labeling and product standards, and other issues are vital to the growth of America's dairy industry."

David Aguilar, a former acting commissioner of CBP and a principal at Global Security and Innovative Strategies, has joined the board of directors for Drone Aviation, the company said (here). Aguilar's "practical experience combined with his proven leadership and well-established network of global business relationships brings tremendous value to Drone Aviation and will be an important contributor to our efforts to serve the Border Patrol and other critical federal and foreign agencies involved in homeland security and law enforcement," said Jay Nussbaum, CEO of Drone Aviation. The company "develops and manufactures cost-effective, compact and rapidly deployable aerial platforms, including lighter-than-air aerostats and electric-powered drones designed to provide government and commercial customers with enhanced surveillance and communication capabilities," it said.

Farrow U.S. hired Joseph Trulik as executive vice president in the company's head office in Plymouth, Michigan, the customs brokerage said in an emailed news release. Trulik previously worked at FedEx Trade Networks as global managing director, Regulatory Compliance.

Amazon hired Arrow Augerot, previously acting assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Congressional Affairs, as senior manager-public policy, a company spokeswoman said.

The Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America on Dec. 5 named President Matt Priest its CEO, the association said (here). Priest had been FDRA president since 2009. Prior to that he was deputy assistant secretary and senior trade adviser to the Commerce secretary and a senior congressional legislative aide, FDRA said.

Akin Gump hired Justin McCarthy, previously a lobbyist at Peck Madigan, as a senior adviser, the firm said in a news release (here). McCarthy also previously worked as assistant U.S. Trade Representative for congressional affairs.

The National Foreign Trade Council hired Vanessa Sciarra, previously vice president with the Emergency Committee for American Trade, as vice president for legal affairs and trade and investment policy, the NFTC said in a news release (here). She also previously worked as an assistant general counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and as a partner in law firm Cassidy Levy.