John Austerman, a former Pentagon official, is starting a new job as a division chief with the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, he announced last week on LinkedIn. The bureau oversees the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the agency responsible for implementing and enforcing the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Austerman most recently worked for the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.

Virginia Lenahan was named the chief international trade counsel on the Senate Finance Committee’s majority staff, committee Chair Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced in an Oct. 3 emailed news release. Since joining the committee in 2019 as a trade counsel, Lenahan has worked on issues related to USMCA, the Inflation Reduction Act and more.

Paul Ledet has joined U.S. semiconductor company AMD as its director of trade compliance, he announced on LinkedIn. Ledet previously helped oversee trade compliance and classification for National Instruments.

Jae Shin, director of compliance for the State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, is on a professional sabbatical this year studying at the National War College, which educates government officials on national security strategy and similar topics, a State Department spokesperson said. John Foster, DDTC’s division chief for compliance and enforcement, is filling in for Shin. Foster’s official title during Shin’s sabbatical is acting director of compliance.

Kathleen Palma, former vice president of global trade controls at Boeing, has joined American semiconductor company Applied Materials as vice president of global trade, she announced on LinkedIn. She began her new role this month.

Jacob Loshin, former assistant general counsel for enforcement and intelligence at the Treasury Department, has joined the law firm Sparacino, which specializes in anti-terrorism and whistleblowing matters, he announced on LinkedIn. Loshin left Treasury earlier this month (see 2409090007).

Keith Schomig left White & Case to join Paul Hastings’ national security and global trade practices, the firm announced this week. Schomig advises clients on national security reviews before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.

Michaela Chen, a former senior trade adviser with the EU’s delegation in the U.S., is joining the National Foreign Trade Council’s board of directors, she announced on LinkedIn. Chen currently works as the senior director for international affairs at medical device firm BD.

Michael Miller, former deputy director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, was chosen as its new director, he announced last week. Miller has been serving as DSCA acting director since former director James Hursch retired in July (see 2408010008). Miller previously led the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (see 2212120004).

Raj Parekh, a former trial attorney with DOJ’s National Security Division, is joining the Bureau of Industry and Security as the agency’s first chief of corporate enforcement, BIS announced this week. Parekh will be the “primary interface” among BIS special agents, the agency’s chief counsel office and DOJ as they work “to advance significant corporate investigations.” Parekh most recently worked as the highest-ranking career official in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.