Sandy K. Baruah (Bah-roo-ah) was nominated by President Bush on September 6, 2005 to serve as the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 17, 2005. Mr. Baruah has served the Bush Administration since 2001. Prior to his nomination and confirmation as the Assistant Secretary, he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Program Operations and Chief of Staff at the Economic Development Administration (EDA).

As Assistant Secretary, Mr. Baruah’s role is to lead and manage the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, the domestic economic development arm of the Commerce Department. The mission of EDA is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA’s annual investment budget for fiscal year 2006 is over $200 million and the bureau has an investment portfolio under active management of $1.5 billion. In addition to its headquarters in Washington, D.C., EDA has six regional offices across the nation with 175 professional employees.

Assistant Secretary Baruah represents the agency before the White House, the Congress, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France, and other forums on a broad range of economic development issues. Mr. Baruah also served as the Commerce Department’s senior representative to President Bush’s post-Hurricane Katrina Lessons Learned Exercise that examined the federal response to the 2005 hurricane and made significant recommendations for improvements in how the federal government handles future significant disasters.

Working with his predecessor, David A. Sampson (now Deputy Secretary of Commerce), Assistant Secretary Baruah helped lead significant accomplishments for EDA, including the agency’s induction into the Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame, passage of EDA’s Congressional reauthorization, the agency’s inclusion in President Bush’s Executive Order which established the Preserve America Initiative, and achieved the second-highest effectiveness ranking from the White House’s Office Management and Budget.

Prior to joining President Bush’s team at the Commerce Department, Sandy spent seven years with Portland, Oregon-based corporate management consulting firm Performance Consulting Group. As a business consultant, he worked on engagements with clients such as Walt Disney World, Intel, Key Bank, Citizens Bank and others.

Sandy Baruah’s previous government service includes work with U.S. Senator Bob Packwood and service to President George H.W. Bush, with positions in the office of the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of the Interior. Mr. Baruah holds a B.S. from the University of Oregon and earned an M.B.A. from Willamette University.