Jamila Thompson Appointed Chief of Staff to the U.S. Trade Representative.

Her promotion comes after years of Thompson’s service as acting chief of staff and senior advisor.

Jamila Thompson has officially been named the Chief of Staff for the United States Trade Representative (USTR). The USTR announced her new position on September 12, recognizing her years of experience as the agency’s acting chief of staff and senior advisor.

As Chief of Staff, Thompson will now bolster the agency’s initiatives to advocate for working communities and enhance opportunities for all. Her impressive government background includes serving as chief of staff for Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District and deputy chief of staff for U.S. Rep. John Lewis (GA). Additionally, she worked as a legislative assistant for Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and spent years as a volunteer coordinator and translator for various nonprofit organizations.

“Jamila has been an invaluable advisor, colleague, and teammate since my first day as the U.S. Trade Representative,” said Ambassador Katherine Tai. “From our time together in Congress to the present, she has exemplified wise counsel, sound judgment, and deep compassion. As USTR leverages trade to promote economic justice and foster inclusive growth, Jamila’s extensive experience, including her role as a senior staff member to the late Congressman John Lewis, will ground our efforts in principles of fairness and equity for all.”

Thompson has previously served on the Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Caribbean Affairs in Washington, D.C., and is currently a senior fellow at the Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership. In Spring 2015, Goucher College recognized her as one of the inaugural recipients of its Distinguished Alumnae and Alumni Award. She is also an alumna of the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

In her role as Chief of Staff, Thompson “will continue to prioritize the health and well-being of USTR as an institution and invest in the growth and development of our team, as she has been doing all year,” Tai stated. “I couldn’t be prouder to have her in this position.”