John T. Masterson, Jr. was appointed Chief Counsel for Industry and Security in April 2006. In this capacity, he serves as the chief program counsel for the Bureau of Industry and Security and is responsible for an office of fifteen attorneys and support staff providing legal advice and assistance regarding export control, antiboycott and enforcement issues arising under the Export Administration Regulations and related legislation.

Prior to becoming Chief Counsel, Mr. Masterson served as the Deputy Chief Counsel for International Commerce for approximately ten years, where he served as a senior legal adviser to the International Trade Administration on a wide range of international trade and investment issues, including intellectual property rights, export promotion, antitrust, international negotiations and trade agreement compliance activities. He also managed the daily operations of an office of seventeen attorneys and support staff. Prior to joining the Department of Commerce in 1985, Mr. Masterson was in private legal practice in Cleveland, Ohio and Washington, D.C. for more than eight years, where he specialized in antitrust, international transaction and intellectual property counseling and litigation.

Mr. Masterson is the recipient of several Department of Commerce awards for outstanding service, including two Departmental Gold Medals, three Silver Medals, and the Office of General Counsel Attorney of the Year Award. He received his B.A. from the University of Kansas, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D. from Yale Law School.