Washington, DC - U.S. Customs and Border Protection is pleased to announce the selection of the Deborah Augustin as the Executive Director of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Business Office and Alice Kipel as the Executive Director of Regulations and Rulings within the Office of International Trade.

“The vast experience and expertise that Ms. Augustin and Ms. Kipel bring will greatly benefit CBP and our stakeholders,” said Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske.  “Their thoughtful leadership will advance efforts to promote U.S. economic prosperity through predictable and transparent processes for facilitating lawful trade.”

The selection of Ms. Augustin and Ms. Kipel for these key positions will support CBP’s commitment to delivering ACE and support CBP’s integral role in providing key guidance to the trade community through the issuance of regulations and rulings.   

Since 2014, Ms. Augustin has served as the Acting Executive Director, ACE Business Office, overseeing the delivery of ACE as the modernized system for processing international trade.  Her leadership has brought CBP, PGAs, and the trade community together toward the completion of core ACE capabilities as the Single Window, in support of the President's Executive Order for Streamlining the Export/Import Process for America's Businesses.  

Ms. Kipel was with the law firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP, where she served as a member of the International Department and Intellectual Property group. She has expertise in the areas of intellectual property rights, antidumping and countervailing duties and trade remedy proceedings.