Deborah Cohn – Working With Ever-Increasing Responsibility

Deborah Cohn knows what it means to work with ever-increasing responsibility. When she started at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 1983, she was fresh out of law school at George Mason, where she had just earned her Juris Doctor Degree in Law. Cohn originally studied Psychology, earning a Bachelor’s Degree at The American University, and even completed some graduate work at City University of New York’s Hunter College between 1975 and 1976.

Cohn started at the USPTO as an entry-level employee, a Trademark Examining Attorney. She helped decide if trademark applications complied with federal standards such as the Lanham Act and Rules of Practice. She also presented oral arguments and legal briefs for the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

After five years working as a Trademark Examining Attorney, Deborah Cohn became a Managing Attorney, in charge of 25 Trademark Examining Attorneys beneath her. She took control of the trademark examination office, reviewing the Trademark Examining Attorneys’ work, and reviewing their legal briefs. She also trained and mentored many attorneys, helping them along in their careers and adding consistent, hard-working attorneys to the staff. Her work as the Managing Attorney in the Trademark Examination Office earned her a Council of Excellence in Government Fellowship and after ten years, she moved up again.

Deborah Cohn became the Group Director of the USPTO’s Trademark Law Offices in 1998. She oversaw the operation of trademark law offices in the areas of legal examination, productivity, customer service and personnel management. In 2010, Cohn accepted the highest position at the USPTO.

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.

 

 

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: Building a Career in Trademark

Deborah Cohn has been a highly valuable asset to the United States Patent and Trademark Office over the course of her 30 years with the organization. Since her joining the agency in 1983 as a Trademark Examining Attorney, she has proved her worth to the organization time and time again through various avenues of attribution.

She quickly gained her footing at the agency shortly after being hired. Within five years she had become a Managing Attorney, supervising and reviewing the work of examining attorneys, training and mentoring new attorneys, and advising attorneys on difficult or complex trademark cases.

In 1997, Deborah Cohn led the development and implementation of an award-winning and highly successful telework program at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Effective telework plans and procedures help ensure critical agency operations continue uninterrupted during, and immediately following, national emergencies caused by terrorism or natural catastrophes. 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.

In 2005, Deborah Cohn was given the position of Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations and would have the title for five years before being selected for the highest position in the trademark organization, Commissioner for Trademarks. As Commissioner for Trademarks at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Deborah is responsible for all aspects of the trademark organization including legal policy, operations, and budgeting of trademark examinations, registration, and maintenance.