USPTO gets new deputy director

Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez has appointed Margaret Peterlin as deputy undersecretary of Commerce for intellectual property and deputy director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Previously, Peterlin was counsel for legal policy and national security adviser for Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. In this role, she advised Hastert, House and Senate leaders, and senior staff on legislative policy and strategy, including judiciary issues such as intellectual property protection and international relations issues.

She also was general counsel to Richard Armey, House majority leader. She clerked on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals for Judge Jerry Smith. Peterlin also was an officer in the Navy for four years, working in the communications field.