Eileen is a leading authority of U.S. export controls and economic sanctions. She played a significant role in the implementation, interpretation and enforcement in U.S. national security policy during her more than her more than 35 years of government service at the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). At Akin she draws on her deep experience developing and implementing U.S. export control regulations and her decades of experience liaising with industry and U.S. allies to assist clients in navigating complex and fast-evolving export control regulations.

During her tenure as Director of the Office of National Security Controls, she implemented export and sanction controls seeking to safeguard a wide range of technologies. She played a leading role in the development of recent export control regulations safeguarding advanced AI chips and tooling for semiconductor manufacturing.

In addition to the formation of regulations, she also facilitated coordination with U.S. allies on and educated industry about export control regulations. She frequently provided industry guidance on licensing and policy. She also collaborated with allies and partners to coordinate economic sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. During the wave of U.S. businesses exiting Russia after the invasion, Eileen assisted companies to ensure that divestments were consistent with the requirements of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR).

Before serving as Director of the Office of National Security Controls, Eileen served as Director of BIS’ Office of Exporter Services. In that role she drafted and approved export control regulations, oversaw outreach and compliance seminars, and developed tools to assist exporters in complying with the EAR. Her comprehensive experience and deep understanding of the regulatory landscape make her a trusted advisor to clients navigating the rapidly evolving U.S. export control environment.