FCC Announces Staff For New Office Of International Affairs And Space Bureau

April 11, 2023

The Federal Communications Commission today officially launched its new Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs.  At a kickoff event today at the agency headquarters, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel thanked the outstanding public servants who will staff these reorganized offices and announced key leadership appointments: Julie Kearney as Chief of the Space Bureau, Ethan Lucarelli as Chief of the Office of International Affairs, Ronald Repasi as Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, and Joel Taubenblatt as Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

“The launch of these two fundamentally important Commission departments will succeed because of the FCC’s outstanding staff,” said Chairwoman Rosenworcel.  “These hard-working, talented professionals interface with our international counterparts, modernize our satellite and orbital debris rules, review license requests for undersea cables upon which international interconnectivity relies, and much more.  I thank them for their service and thank all those across the agency that worked to make this reorganization a reality.”

The Office of International Affairs and the Space Bureau became official upon publication in the Federal Register.  With this transition, the International Bureau ceases to exist and becomes these two new offices.

Julie Kearney, the first Chief of the FCC’s new Space Bureau, joined the Commission in February as Senior Counsel to help lead this transition.  Prior to her FCC work, she worked in the private sector for communications companies including Twilio, Loon (Alphabet), National Public Radio, MCI, the Consumer Technology Association, and in private legal practice.  Julie earned her law degree from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College.

Ethan Lucarelli, the first Chief of the Office of International Affairs, has most recently served as Legal Advisor to Chairwoman Rosenworcel on wireless and international policy issues.  He also advised the Chairwoman on public safety and served as an advisor in the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.  Prior to working for the FCC, he worked for Inmarsat, Wiley Rein LLP, and continues to lecture at the George Washington University Law School.  Ethan earned his law degree from George Washington University Law School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois.

Joel Taubenblatt is now Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau after serving in an acting capacity in that role in recent years.  Before that, he served as Deputy Bureau Chief, Chief of the Competition and Infrastructure Policy Division, and Chief of the Broadband Division.  He joined the FCC in 1996 as an attorney in the Common Carrier Bureau, and he is a recipient of the FCC’s Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Career Service.  Joel earned his law degree from Duke University School of Law and bachelor’s degrees from Wharton School of Finance and the University of Pennsylvania.

Ronald Repasi is now Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology after serving in an acting capacity in that role in recent years.  He joined the office in 2003 and served as Deputy Chief since 2007.  He has also worked in the FCC’s then-International Bureau and as the agency’s liaison to the Inter-department Radio Advisory Committee.  Ron earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from The George Washington University School of Engineering and Applied Science.