Deborah Cohn
Deborah Cohn: Executive in Trademark Practices
Deborah Cohn
Deborah Cohn, as Commissioner for Trademarks at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, holds a lot of responsibility within her organization. She helps establish policy and procedure affecting the entire agency’s 12,000+ employees and supervises the financial planning and execution of a budget of more than $200 million. Additionally, Deborah was a vital part of the development and implementation of telework at the USPTO and established the office’s first telework program in 1997.
Website: http://deborahcohn.wordpress.com/
Location: McLean, Virginia, USA
Deborah Cohn: Honored and Dedicated
Deborah Cohn has been a vital component to the ongoing operations and inner workings of the United States Patent and Trademark Office since she joined the agency in 1983 as a Trademark Examining Attorney. Since she joined the organization she has been instrumental in the implementation and development of telework and helped expand its use throughout the agency.
Deborah Cohn’s foresight, creativity, perseverance, and vision for telework’s success within her organization was pioneered at a time when telework programs were far from being the norm. Deborah Cohn was able to forge coalitions with managers, IT personnel, and the employee union to allow for the creation of an award-winning telework program at the USPTO.
Effective telework plans and procedures help ensure critical agency operations continue uninterrupted in the midst of, and following, national emergencies caused by terrorism or natural disasters. Federal agencies actively using telework programs have more productive workforces, increased employee morale and quality of life, and the ability to better accommodate employees with health problems or child or elder care responsibilities.
Deborah Cohn has been recognized by the United States Congress for her efforts in making the USPTO’s telework program the most successful operation of its kind within the federal government.
Deborah Cohn studied Psychology as an undergraduate at the American University in Washington, D.C., before achieving her degree from the George Mason University School of Law in 1982. Now Commissioner for Trademarks at the USPTO, she is responsible for all aspects of the agency including legal policy, operations, and budget relating to trademark examination, registration and maintenance. Deborah Cohn is retiring in January, 2015.
Deborah Cohn - Leader in Innovative Work Programs
Deborah Cohn, as Commissioner for Trademarks at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, is responsible for all aspects of the organization including legal policy, operations, and the budgeting of trademark examination, registration, and maintenance. Her path to the top of the agency has been littered with nothing but success.
In 1997, Deborah Cohn led the development and implementation of an award-winning and highly successful telework program in her agency. Today more than 85% of the organization’s employees telework. Effective telework plans and procedures help keep critical agency and organization operations uninterrupted during, and immediately following, national emergencies caused by terrorism or natural catastrophes. Federal agencies successfully using telework programs have more productive workforces, increased employee morale and quality of life, and the ability to better accommodate employees with health problems or child or elder care responsibilities.
Deborah Cohn joined the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1983 as a Trademark Examining Attorney where, examining applications for trademark registration, writing legal briefs, and presenting oral arguments before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, as well as assisting with special details and projects for the Assistant Commissioner and Office of the Solicitor.
Deborah Cohn pursued a degree in Psychology from the American University in Washington, D.C. She graduated with her Bachelor’s degree from the university in 1974. In 1982, she achieved her degree in law from the George Mason University School of Law, and that following year in 1983, she started work for the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Deborah Cohn - Unwavering Determination
Deborah Cohn initially studied Psychology at the American University in Washington, D.C. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in Psychology in 1974 before pursuing graduate work at City University of New York and Hunter College in 1975 and ‘76. She decided to pursue a different line of work entirely after her stint in Psychology. In 1982 she graduated from the George Mason University School of Law and soon after that she found herself applying for a job at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Deborah Cohn’s work ethic and skill set gave her upward mobility within the organization. After just five years of working at the agency she would be promoted to Managing Attorney, where she was placed in charge of all aspects of the trademark examination law office including supervising and reviewing the work of examining attorneys, training and mentoring new attorneys, and advising and assisting attorneys on complex cases.
Since her joining the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Deborah Cohn has shown passion, dedication, and perseverance in her unrelenting efforts to excel in her job duties, taking on higher roles in the agency whenever called upon to do so. From 2008 to 2010, she had temporary assignments as Acting Chief Administrative Officer, giving her responsibility for all administrative service support functions for the agency including human capital, human resource management, telework policy and programs, facilities management, safety and security, transportation, and asset and records management.
By 2010, Deborah Cohn had reached the highest position of Commissioner for Trademarks, seeing her hard work and dedication come to fruition under her new title and responsibilities. Deborah Cohn is retiring in January, 2015.