Shirin Bidel-Niyat

Shirin Bidel-Niyat is the Chief of Staff for the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), supporting the Office of the Under Secretary and the USPTO on a wide variety of policy and operational matters. Ms. Bidel-Niyat serves the Director as a principal advisor and helps coordinate a $4 billion budget that supports over 13,000 USPTO employees and the execution of the daily operations, policies, priorities, and global communications that further the President’s intellectual property agenda. In addition, she serves on the USPTO’s Executive Committee and manages the day-to-day policy coordination process with the White House, the Department of Commerce, and other federal agencies. In her previous role at the USPTO, she served as a Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary and Director.

Ms. Bidel-Niyat is a political strategist with nearly two decades of electoral, legislative, and community organizing experience. She has created and led national organizations, inspired stakeholder buy-in, and directed campaigns to sway public sentiment and achieve issue advocacy, policy, and electoral goals.

Before joining the USPTO, Ms. Bidel-Niyat served as the Associate Director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), one of the nation’s largest labor unions. In this role, she served as the Chief of Staff for her department and directed AFSCME’s efforts across the country. She oversaw state legislative, candidate, and issue campaigns, all focused on building worker strength by galvanizing member political activism. She previously served as the Deputy Political Director for the League of Conservation Voters and has been a manager and field director for various federal and state candidates and issue advocacy organizations.

Ms. Bidel-Niyat received a Bachelor of Arts in both political science and psychology from The George Washington University.