The Patent Public Advisory Committee consists of a group of individuals selected by the Commerce Secretary (Gutierrez). The committe's purpose is to advise the Director of the PTO (Dudas) on the management of operations of the Office. Three new members have been appointed to serve their three-year term:
- Carl Gulbradsen, Managing director of WARF in Madison, Wisconsin;
- Andrea Ryan, VP and assistant general counsel at Wyeth; and
- Dean Kamen, inventor and chairman of Segway LLC.
The nine-member PPAC is on a three-year rotating schedule. Each year three new members are appointed. Traditionally, each Fall, the PTO Director requests nominations for the position. Congratulations to the new members of the committee.