Staff
David Hirschmann
As president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Capital Markets Competitiveness (CCMC) Hirschmann leads the Chamber’s initiative dedicated to making U.S. capital markets the most fair, efficient, transparent, and attractive in the world. This effort addresses domestic and international securities regulation and enforcement and financial reporting issues, including auditor viability, and proxy rules.
Hirschmann also serves as president and CEO of the Chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC). The GIPC works to champion intellectual property (IP) as a vital engine of global development, growth, and human progress. He oversees the Center’s work in communicating the value of IP, building support for IP protection in the United States, growing alliances to promote IP in international markets, and improving enforcement.
Mark T. Esper, Ph.D.
Dr. Mark T. Esper is the executive vice president of the Global Intellectual Property Center. Previously, he was a senior scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy and an independent consultant. Until February 2008, Esper served as the national policy director for the Fred Thompson 2008 Presidential Campaign. Esper also served as the candidate’s national security advisor.
Before joining the Thompson Campaign, Esper was executive vice president of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) of America, the premier trade organization representing the nation’s aerospace and defense industry. In addition to his duties as COO, Esper was responsible for AIA’s defense and international policy offices.
Esper served a number of years on Capitol Hill. His last assignment was director of National Security Affairs for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN).
Rob Calia
Rob Calia is the Director of Counterfeiting and Piracy for the Global Intellectual Property Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing 3 million companies, associations, state and local chambers, and American Chambers of Commerce abroad.
Rob joined the Chamber in March 2006 to advance its fight against counterfeiting and piracy, which costs the U.S. economy an estimated $250 billion per year, more than 750,000 American jobs, and poses a significant threat to consumer health and safety. Rob’s responsibilities primarily focus on business and consumer education and federal and state government outreach.
Rob also serves as the Secretariat for the Chamber led Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP), a broad-based business coalition with more than 600 members, representing companies small and large from nearly ever industry, committed to the fight against counterfeiting and piracy.
Chris Connelly
Chris Connelly is director of Communications and Research for the Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Connelly is tasked with leading the GIPC Communications team in promoting intellectual property issues to both domestic and international audiences through effective media outreach and research programs. He joined the Chamber in March 2009.
Previously, Connelly was a senior communications official in the Bush administration, serving as director of Communications for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Reporting directly to the secretary, Connelly led a staff of 90, effectively promoting USDA’s programs and the administration’s agenda. Under his leadership, the department dealt with a variety of issues including trade, agribusiness, and food safety.