Robinson+Cole Lawyer Appointed to the International Trade Administration’s Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Aerospace Equipment

Robinson+Cole Manufacturing and Aerospace Supply Chain Team Chair, Jeff White, has been appointed by United States Secretary of Commerce, Gina M. Raimondo, and United States Trade Representative, Katherine C. Tai, to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Aerospace Equipment (ITAC 1).

White will serve as a representative of The Lee Company, a global leader in miniature fluid control products, which was founded in 1948, as part of a group of 14 members for the purpose of fulfilling an advisory role to the United States Secretary of Commerce as well as to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), related to the U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturing industry. White will serve a four-year term, which expires in 2026.

“The Lee Company is pleased to have Jeff White represent us on the Aerospace Equipment Industry Trade Advisory Committee,” said William Lee, Chairman, President & CEO of The Lee Company. “We look forward to providing our assistance to the United States government and other notable aerospace and defense companies on the important issues facing our industry today.”

“I am truly honored by this appointment and to represent the interests of The Lee Company on the ITAC1 Committee,” said Jeff White. “It is rewarding to be engaged at the national level and to participate with business leaders to help positively shape the future of the aerospace and defense manufacturing sector.”

White has been a leader in the manufacturing and aerospace sectors for many years. He has engaged in several national, regional and local efforts to support the commercial efforts of Robinson+Cole’s clients, including U.S. Commerce appointments that span two different Presidential administrations:

• In 2019, White, on behalf of Robinson+Cole, was presented with the President’s “E” Award for Export Service by the United States Secretary of Commerce. The award was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports. Robinson+Cole was the only law firm in the country to receive the honor in 2019.
• White has served, by appointment from two different U.S. Secretaries of Commerce, multiple two-year terms on the Connecticut District Export Council (CTDEC), a not-for-profit affiliated with the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center.
• In 2020, White was one of six business leaders to receive the CTDEC 2020 Ambassador Award in recognition and appreciation of outstanding contributions and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic in service to the region’s exporters and manufacturers.

White has been invited to speak at The White House, United States Department of Commerce events, by other trade associations, and to the media on developments affecting manufacturing and aerospace businesses. He also serves on the Board of Directors of several trade organizations focused on manufacturing and aerospace issues, including the national Board of Directors of Women in Manufacturing, ManufactureCT, the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA), and the New England Air Museum.

White represents a cross-section of companies ranging from large global companies to family-owned businesses. He has worked with economic development agencies to support direct foreign investment into the United States and is currently advising several manufacturers headquartered around the world. White was selected by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program to co-author a chapter in its June 2020 Investor Guide for companies that are making investments in the United States.

White’s innovative approach has created a series of firsts that have solidified Robinson+Cole as having “one of the nation’s top manufacturing law practices,” as noted in a recent article by the Indiana Lawyer.

About The Lee Company

The Lee Company is a leading supplier of miniature, precision fluid control products to a wide range of industries, including aerospace, Formula 1 racing, oil exploration, automotive and off-highway equipment and medical/scientific instruments. Its products are recognized worldwide for superior quality, reliability and performance. The company’s unique capabilities in miniaturization and engineering expertise keep the company at the forefront of fluid control technology and identify Lee as a leading innovator in the field of fluid handling and control. For more information, please visit https://www.theleeco.com/.

About Robinson+Cole

Robinson+Cole is an AmLaw 200 law firm established over 175 years ago, with a deeply-rooted culture of collaboration, civility and inclusion. The Mansfield Rule Certified-firm has more than 230 lawyers in ten offices throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Florida and California, serving regional, national, and international clients, from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies. Robinson+Cole is a service mark of Robinson & Cole LLP. For more information, please visit www.rc.com.