David A. Gross

Ambassador David A. Gross "has served since August 2001 as the U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the Senate. Ambassador Gross began his career in communications about twenty years ago. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1976 (BA in Economics) and receiving his law degree from Columbia University in 1979, Ambassador Gross joined the law firm of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan. While at the law firm, he became a partner specializing in communications and telecommunications issues. He remained at Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan until 1994, when he was named Washington Counsel for AirTouch Communications. AirTouch was the world's largest wireless telecommunications company, with extensive interests in the United States, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere. In 1999, Vodafone Plc, a very large U.K.-based wireless telecommunications company, acquired AirTouch. In 2000, Vodafone merged its U.S. wireless interests with Bell Atlantic and GTE Corporation to create Verizon Wireless. At that time, Ambassador Gross joined the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign as National Executive Director of Lawyers for Bush-Cheney. For many years, Ambassador Gross has been active with various bar associations, including the Federal Communications Bar Association (in which he has twice been elected to be an officer, and has often served as co-chair of various committees) and the International Bar Association (in which he has been vice-chair of the Communications Committee). He currently resides in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife and son." --Department of State profile.