Kendee Yamaguchi was appointed by President Biden to serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Field at the International Trade Administration. In this role, she oversees nearly 300 trade professionals in more than 100 U.S. cities. She helps U.S. businesses export their goods and services, and attracts foreign direct investment to grow jobs within the United States.

Yamaguchi has more than 20 years in executive management working closely with local, state, and national government leaders, businesses, and investors across the globe to promote job creation, public investment, and cultural diversity. She has deep experience within the aerospace, technology, agriculture, energy, and life sciences sectors of the economy. Most recently, she served as Deputy Mayor of Seattle, one of the largest cities in the nation, where her primary responsibilities included coordinating City priorities on business, cultural initiatives, and external relations.

During the Clinton Administration, she held roles managing events and in management. This includes her work on the Executive Order creating the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, an effort to advise the President on ways the public, private and non-profit sectors can work together to advance opportunity, justice, and equity. Yamaguchi earned her bachelor’s degree from American University and law degree from Seattle University.