Ned Rauch-Mannino served as deputy assistant secretary for global operations and senior adviser for global markets in the U.S. Department of Commerce, supporting U.S. competitiveness and reinforcing trade and investment across markets worldwide. Additionally, he served as an adviser to the U.S. Agency for International Development and was a member of the inaugural Prosper Africa Secretariat. Before that, Ned directed strategic initiatives at Ridge Policy Group and was director of policy and research for Philadelphia’s Urban Industry Initiative. He earned a master's degree at Pennsylvania State University, completed field research in Kenya, and earned an undergraduate degree at Temple University.