September 2003

In 2001, Joseph Bogosian was appointed to the Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration by President George W. Bush. Serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Trade Development Bureau, Joseph assists U.S. companies from the aerospace, automotive, and machinery industries with international trade policy and promotion. In addition to managing a staff of fifty-five trade specialists, Joseph's position requires him to travel extensively. This month he is leading a group of U.S. companies to China to explore airport infrastructure development projects.

Joseph has worked in international trade and government affairs since graduating from the School of Law in 1992. Cultivating commercial relations with foreign governments, Joseph's resume includes work with Armenia, Belgium, China, Croatia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam. "During my third-year of law school, I decided that my interests were in government affairs. Initially, I had to overcome the psychological hurdle of having invested three years in a law degree and then deciding not to practice law, but law school taught me how to break down stories, identify issues, and come up with solutions and these skills allowed me to successfully market myself to the non-legal labor market. UM's Elements and Litigation Skills courses were particularly instrumental in developing my analytical reasoning skills and I apply my legal training on a daily basis."

Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Joseph earned his B.S. from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. During his third-year of law school, he was the Student Bar Association President at UM. Before coming to UM Law, Joseph worked for the House of Representatives Public Works and Transportation Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee. He is fluent in Armenian and French.