Francisco (Frank) J. Sánchez (born on 16 June 1959) is the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade at the Department of Commerce.
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Sánchez graduated with a B.A. from Florida State University in 1982. In 1986, he received his J.D. from Florida State University College of Law. He earned a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University in 1993.
From 1984 to 1987, Sánchez worked for then Governor Bob Graham and Wayne Mason Lieutenant Governor of Florida. In 1987 he joined the law firm of Steel, Hector and Davis. After earning his M.P.P. from Harvard, he went to work for CMI, an international consulting firm focusing on negotiations strategy and conflict management. He then co-founded CMI International Group and served as a senior advisor to CMPartners.
From 1999 to 2000, he served as a Special Assistant to the President. From 2000 to 2001, he served as Assistant Transportation Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs. In 2001, he founded Cambridge Negotiation Strategies.
Sanchez has over 15 years experience working with several leading consulting companies on projects involving negotiation strategy, alliance management, labor management negotiations, facilitation and training. Among his private sector achievements, Sanchez directed a team in Medelin, Columbia as part of the "Teaching Tolerance" program. He also served as a consultant to the President of Ecuador in negotiations that led to the resolution of a long-running border dispute with Peru.
In 2010 Sánchez became Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade.
Sánchez ran for mayor of Tampa, Florida in 2003. In the election, Sánchez came in second[1] after taking it to a runoff.[2]
On April 20, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Sánchez to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade. After a lengthy process, Sánchez was unanamously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in September, 2010.[3]
As Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Sanchez plays a leadership role in advancing President Obama's National Export Initiative, an initiative designed to grow exports abroad while creating and supporting American jobs. As the head of the International Trade Administration, Sanchez oversees the development of U.S. trade policy, promotes U.S. companies in the global economy, strengthens American competitiveness across all industries, addresses market access and compliance issues, and administers U.S. trade laws.
Sanchez has led international trade missions with multiple U.S companies to emerging markets like China, India, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. He is an advocate for U.S. businesses during all international travel and domestic and international meetings.
Under Secretary Sanchez was appointed by President Obama to the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China
Sanchez sits on the Board of Directors for the Oversees Private Investment Corp. (OPIC). He also is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Formerly, Sanchez served on the Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.