Kathi Vidal thanks USPTO colleagues for accomplishments during her tenure as director 

Kathi Vidal, under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), announced November 12 that she is returning  to the private sector. Her last day as director will be during the second week of December.

Derrick Brent, deputy under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and deputy director of the USPTO, will become director on an interim basis. His title will be acting under secretary of commerce for intellectual property and acting director of the USPTO.

In a correspondence to USPTO employees, Vidal wrote: “It has been an honor and a true joy to be with you on our collective journey these past few years. Together we have transformed the USPTO. We have executed on our mission to proactively defend and promote strong intellectual property to lift communities, create better jobs, and foster the American innovative spirit in everyone. And we have been successful because of our commitment to putting employees first.

“Though our work is not done, it is time for me to turn the reins over to Deputy Director Derrick Brent, who has worked alongside me every step of the way.”

Vidal invited the public to view a list of accomplishments during her tenure at www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance-and-planning/strategic-planning/accomplishments. She was nominated to be USPTO director by President Joe Biden on October 26, 2021.