The Federal Maritime Commission has hired Mohammad “Ali” Usman as its new chief information officer. Usman will direct information technology and serve as the "primary IT technical advisor to the Managing Director" as of March 11, the FMC said. Usman joins FMC from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, where he was chief technology officer.

John Leonard, deputy executive assistant commissioner at CBP's Office of Trade, will retire in April, acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said at the March 6 meeting of the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee. The agency didn't comment further.

Josh Kagan, former assistant U.S. trade representative for labor affairs, has joined Kelley Drye as a special counsel in the international trade practice group, the firm announced. At USTR, Kagan worked on adopting and enforcing "internationally recognized labor rights," along with the "negotiation and implementation of labor provisions included in bilateral, regional, and multilateral trade agreements."

CBP named Cheryl Davies director of CBP’s Los Angeles Field Office, it said in a Feb. 22 news release. Davies, who previously was area port director for Los Angeles International Airport, will in her new position oversee all CBP operations in Greater Los Angeles and Las Vegas, CBP said.

Robert Stein, former executive at supply chain logistics firm Mohawk Global, has joined Braumiller Consulting Group as vice president, according to his LinkedIn announcement. Stein said he will be working on foreign-trade zone, duty drawback, import/export compliance, Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification, customs valuation and free trade agreement matters.

CBP's Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) reappointed 14 members for the 17th term of the group, the agency said. Additional 17th term appointments will be made and announced at a later date, CBP said.

Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics who tracked the ways the U.S.-China phase one trade agreement fell short, has joined the State Department as chief economist.

As Josh Kagan leaves as assistant U.S. trade representative for labor, USTR Katherine Tai announced that Katy Mastman will replace him in an acting capacity. Tai said, "Josh’s leadership has been instrumental in our successful use of the USMCA Rapid Response Labor Mechanism and work to eradicate forced labor in supply chains."

Sarah Bianchi, deputy U.S. trade representative for Asia and Africa for more than two years, left the agency Jan. 29.

Rimon Law added two partners and one associate to its international trade practice, the firm said. The new partners are James Min, former global chair of international trade law for the DHL Group and Mi-Yong Kim, former partner at LimNexus. The firm also added Chelsea Ellis, former LimNexus associate, as an associate. Rimon also announced the launch of its export controls and economic sanctions practice. Ellis, Kim and Min join partner Daanish Hamid in that practice. Sandra Bell, former deputy assistant commissioner at CBP's Office of International Trade, also recently joined the firm (see 2401120064).