Bruce Andrews served as the deputy secretary of Commerce from 2014 through January 2017, under President Obama and Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. In this role he functioned as the chief operating officer, overseeing the Commerce Department’s internal operations as well as its twelve bureaus. He led the interagency process, including with the National Security Council and the National Economic Council. Bruce also represented the department around the country and the world, including in trade negotiations, leading trade missions, helping U.S. companies overseas, and meeting with government and business leaders. He worked on a wide variety of issues including digital economy policy, developing U.S. manufacturing, helping distressed communities, and creating the Commerce Data Service.
Previously, Bruce served as chief of staff to the secretary at the Department of Commerce. He was also general counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where he was responsible for policy, legal, and jurisdictional issues, and the committee’s oversight and investigations.
Before his career in public service, Bruce worked in the private sector, including most recently as a vice president for governmental affairs for the Ford Motor Company. He also practiced in the public policy and telecommunications groups at the firm of Arnold; Porter. As a founding member of the firm Quinn Gillespie; Associates (QGA), Bruce worked on a variety of issues in transportation, technology, judiciary, telecommunications, and financial services.
Bruce began his career on Capitol Hill as legislative director for Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA), as legislative assistant for Rep. Gus Yatron (D-PA), and on the staff of Senator Alan Cranston (D-CA). A native of Syracuse, NY, he attended Georgetown University Law Center. Bruce played lacrosse for four years at Haverford as a defenseman. He has remained very active with the team and also with the lacrosse alumni network. He has worked to encourage Fords, including lacrosse players, to pursue careers in government and public policy. Bruce lives with his wife, Didem Nisanci, and two daughters in Washington, DC.
About the Forman Award: The Forman Award is selected by the Alumni Association Awards Committee and presented by the Athletic Department. Friends and relatives of Larry Forman approached the College in 1991 about creating an award in his honor. Haverford responded enthusiastically with an award designed to recognize someone whose athletic career in college and subsequent devotion to serving society was reminiscent of Forman.