Molly S. Braese is the Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement at the Bureau of Industry and Security (Department of Commerce).  She is also an Adjunct Professor on Transnational Crime at Georgetown University’s Center for Security Studies. 

Ms. Braese previously served as the Director for Transnational Organized Crime in the Counterterrorism and Transnational Crime Directorate at the National Security Council (NSC).  In that role, Ms. Braese was responsible for formulating and implementing government-wide policies and programs related to transnational organized crime.  Prior to joining the White House, Ms. Braese held various roles in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, as well as at U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  

Ms. Braese earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law, and her B.A. in Italian Literature from the University of Connecticut.