The US Commerce Department's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced on July 30 that US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker has appointed Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy Drew Hirshfeld to be the new Commissioner for Patents effective immediately.

Hirshfeld succeeds Margaret "Peggy" Focarino, who served at the USPTO for 38 years and retired in early July 2015. Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations Andrew Faile has served as Acting Commissioner since Focarino’s departure.