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BIS leader moving to National Security Council

Mira Ricardel, former acting assistant secretary of defense for international security policy, will serve as deputy national security advisor.

   Mira Ricardel, who has served as under secretary of Commerce for export administration since August, will join the National Security Council as deputy national security advisor, National Security Advisor John Bolton announced Friday evening.
   “I selected her as deputy national security advisor because her expertise is broad-based and includes national security matters related to our alliances, defense posture, technology security, foreign security assistance and arms control,” Bolton said in a statement on Ricardel’s appointment. “Her policy-making and interagency experience will make her a great addition to the National Security Council. I look forward to her joining our team and working together to ensure President Trump’s foreign policy agenda is executed.”
   Before serving as Commerce under secretary, Ricardel worked as acting assistant secretary of defense for international security policy and deputy assistant secretary of defense for Eurasia, among several other previous jobs.
   The White House hasn’t announced whom President Donald Trump will nominate to replace Ricardel’s position at the Commerce Department, which oversees the Bureau of Industry and Security.
   “The White House makes personnel announcements once ready, and I have no further information on this position at this time,” an NSC spokesperson said in an email.