Anthony Dearth, who was previously chief of staff in the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, recently joined Alpha Omega Consulting Group, according to the company's list of personnel.

Polsinelli hired Michelle Schulz, previously at Ackerman, as a shareholder and chair of the firm’s International Trade and Customs practice in Polsinelli's Dallas office, the firm said in a news release. Matthew Savage, also previously with Akerman, will join the practice as a trade analyst in Dallas. Luis Arandia Jr., who comes from Givens & Johnston, will join as an associate in the Dallas office. "We expect the dynamic combination of our existing franchise transactions and litigation practice with the exciting work being done in international trade and customs and franchising by our new team members will vigorously move us forward as we continue to expand our footprint to better serve our clients wherever they do business,” said Joyce Mazero, co-chair of the firm’s national Global Franchise and Supply Network practice.

Bradley Hayes, executive director of CBP's Office of Trade Relations, is now acting assistant commissioner for CBP’s Office of Congressional Affairs, according to the July 10 issue of OCA's monthly newsletter.

Stephen Vaughn, former general counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, will rejoin King & Spalding as a partner, the law firm said in a July 9 news release. Vaughn was at the law firm before going to USTR. Vaughn "has been directly involved in every major trade-related determination and negotiation that has occurred in the past two and a half years,” said Wick Sollers, head of the firm’s Government Matters practice group, which is over the International Trade team that Vaughn will be joining.

Vinson & Elkins hired Damara Chambers, previously at Covington & Burling, as a partner and co-leader of the firm's national security practice, Vinson & Elkins said in a news release. "Chambers focuses her practice on national security reviews conducted by [the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States] and other agencies, including the Defense Security Service and the Department of Energy in connection with the mitigation of foreign ownership, control or influence (FOCI), and the State Department in connection with reviews pursuant to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations," the firm said.

Mark Morgan, acting director of ICE since May, will become the acting commissioner at CBP, Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said in a June 27 news release. Morgan's formal position will be CBP "Chief Operating Officer and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner," Homeland Security said. Acting CBP Commissioner John Sanders, who was also COO of the agency, recently resigned from his post, effective July 5 (see 1906250028). ICE Deputy Director Matthew Albence will take over as acting director, McAleenan said.

Acting CBP Commissioner John Sanders is leaving the agency, according to multiple reports. The resignation is effective July 5, according to Sanders' email to CBP employees, which was posted by Axios. A CBP spokeswoman confirmed the resignation and effective date. Sanders took over for Commissioner Kevin McAleenan after he became Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary (see 1904160010). According to a report in The New York Times, Acting Director of ICE Mark Morgan will take over at CBP. CBP didn't comment on that report.

Winston & Strawn hired Christopher Monahan, previously with Crowell & Moring, as a partner, Winston said in a June 24 news release. Monahan "counsels clients across a broad scope of industries regarding compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the sanctions programs administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)," the firm said.

Norton Rose rehired Stefan Reisinger, who was in the international trade practice at Morgan Lewis and at Norton Rose before that, the law firm said in a June 18 news release.

Steve Francis is the new assistant director of the interagency Global Trade Investigations Division (GTID) and director of the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, ICE Homeland Security Investigations said in a news release. The Counter-Proliferation Investigations (CPI) Unit and the Export Enforcement Coordination Center (E2C2) are both now part of GTID, a "newly-formed division that was created as part of a headquarters reorganization," ICE said. “With this realignment, the IPR Center is better positioned to maximize the effectiveness of its 25-agency partnerships in the fight against intellectual property theft and trade law violations,” Francis said. “We value these partnerships and the collaboration that further strengthens them.” Francis previously served as the special agent in charge of HSI operations in Michigan and Ohio and was involved in creating the Global Trade Task Force, another interagency effort (see 1903200033).