Thomas Bruns in

Thomas Bruns

Captain · DISC type DS
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Director General at U.S. Department of Commerce
📍 United States

Thomas is a strategic executive with over 30 years of experience in international trade and commercial diplomacy, currently serving as a senior leader at the U. S. Department of Commerce. He is an MBA graduate from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Colleagues describe him as a results-oriented leader with exceptional initiative.

He is passionate about sustainable development, a value shaped during his service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal. His extensive international career, including five years living in Abu Dhabi with his family, has had a profound impact on his personal and professional life, creating deep global connections.

He is multilingual, speaking French, Bulgarian, Russian, Turkish, and the West African languages of Bambara and Wolof.

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Experience
32 Years
Current Role
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Director General
Job Level
Senior
Location
United States
Personality Overview

How Thomas shows up

Dynamic But Sincere
Decisive But Calm
Long-Term Thinker

Reading between the lines and seeing beyond your words comes naturally to them. They exhibit a rare combination of being result-oriented but patient at the same time. They are very professional in their approach and can weigh multiple perspectives together.

Priorities

Topics Thomas cares about

Global Trade Strategy
His entire career is focused on advancing U. S. trade policy, opening new markets, and helping American companies compete and grow overseas.
Commercial Diplomacy
He has extensive experience leading U. S. commercial engagement and diplomacy across the Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia, often in complex geopolitical environments.
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Career

Work history

8-2025
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Director General
U.S. Department of Commerce
8-2023 - 8-2025
Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Middle East and Africa
U.S. Department of Commerce
7-2018 - 9-2023
Regional Senior Commercial Officer
U.S. Department of Commerce
4-2018 - 7-2018
Interim Assignment, Washington D.C.
U.S. Department of Commerce
8-2016 - 4-2018
Counselor for Commercial Affairs
U.S. Department of Commerce
In the press

Media appearances

Thomas Bruns - International Trade Administration. Featured in Trade.gov (U.S. Department of Commerce)
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Education
2018 - 2018
Certificate of Completion - Executive Education
Harvard Kennedy School
2004 - 2005
Master of Business Administration - MBA
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

D

Dominance (D)

Dominance (D) reflects how goal and task oriented a person is, and their ability to accomplish results irrespective of how demanding the circumstances might be. Those scoring high tend to be motivated by winning, competition, and success.

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