Baker, Douglas B.

BIOGRAPHY

Douglas B. Baker
Deputy Assistant Secretary
Service Industries, Tourism, and Finance
International Trade Administration

Mr. Baker was appointed by the Bush Administration to be the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Service Industries, Tourism, and Finance, within the International Trade Administration in the United States Department of Commerce. He has served in this position since November 13, 2001.

Mr. Baker oversees and manages four separate offices, which develop trade policy and implement trade promotion activities for US businesses in the service, tourism and finance industries. The services sector represents approximately 75% of the economy of the United States. This office also works with companies that seek to increase exports under the Export Company Trading Affairs Act, which was signed into law in 1982, by then President Ronald Reagan. This program provides certain antitrust protections for businesses that create partnerships for the express purpose of exporting, with a strong focus on small and medium-sized businesses.

Prior to joining the Bush Administration, Mr. Baker served as the executive director and deputy general counsel for the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority from 1999-2001. During his tenure, the Sports Authority financed and developed more than $1,000,000,000 in sports-related infrastructures.

Mr. Baker was also associated with the law firm of Looper, Reed, Mark & McGraw from 1993 to 1998, in Houston, Texas. He practiced public and administrative law, as well as commercial litigation. In 1991-1992, Mr. Baker served as a law clerk to the Honorable John D. Rainey, United States District Court Judge in Houston, Texas.

Mr. Baker also served in the second Reagan administration, where he was a policy analyst at the Agency for International Development. His office was responsible for researching and preparing summaries of the current political situation in emerging democratic countries, in addition to providing direct electoral assistance to these countries. In 1990, Mr. Baker served as associate staff counsel to the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he focused on energy regulatory matters.

A native of Houston, Texas, Mr. Baker received his B.A. degree from the University of Texas at Austin and his J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law, in Houston, Texas. Mr. Baker and his wife have recently relocated to Alexandria, Virginia.