 Most recently, he was the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce.As the Department's chief operating officer he managed a $11 billion budget and 38,000 employees and was responsible for the day-to-day operations of an agency with one of the broadest portfolios in federal government.Sampson traveled worldwide to promote opportunities for U.S. companies during his tenure as deputy secretary of Commerce, and he saw firsthand the interconnectedness of the American and global economies.