Rich Ashooh

Rich Ashooh is the Corporate Vice President of Global Trade and Government Affairs for Lam Research Corporation, a world leader in the development of advanced semiconductor production technology. In this role, he leads Lam’s international governmental activities including global trade enablement and compliance, legislative and regulatory matters, and public policy.  

Prior to joining Lam in 2020, Rich served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration.  As Assistant Secretary, he was responsible for the U.S. dual-use export control system, as well as the management of the Department of Commerce’s national security, nonproliferation, foreign policy, and strategic industrial resource functions within the Bureau of Industry and Security.  

During his tenure, Rich led the Department’s efforts to modernize the dual use export control system through the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 or ECRA. He also served as the Department’s representative to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or CFIUS, including the negotiations on the legislation modernizing CFIUS known as the Foreign Investment Risk Review and Modernization Act (FIRRMA). 

For much of his career, Rich was a senior executive in the defense industry, with Lockheed and BAE Systems. During this time, Rich contributed to the growth of that business from an $800 million company to a nearly $5 billion enterprise and the world leader in electronic warfare.  

Rich’s professional career began in the US Senate, having served for several years as a Professional Staff Member on the US Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs where his primary focus was on federal procurement policies. 

Rich is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and is currently a Senior Fellow of the Carsey School of Public Policy at the UNH. He his wife Lori have five children.