Exec tapped for Commerce post

President Bush said this week he intends to nominate Phillip Bond to be undersecretary of Commerce for technology.

Bond is the director of federal public policy for Hewlett-Packard Co. and was formerly senior vice president for government affairs and treasurer of the Information Technology Industry Council.

Commerce's undersecretary for technology would manage the three agencies in the department's Technology Administration: the Office of Technology Policy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Technical Information Service.

Donald Upson, Virginia's technology secretary, was believed to be the administration's top choice for the position, but he decided to drop out of the running in May for personal and family reasons, according to his office.

Bond has held positions on the Hill. Most recently, he served as chief of staff to Rep. Jennifer Dunn (R-Wash.) from 1993 to 1998. He was also principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for legislative affairs from 1992 to 1993, and chief of staff and Rules Committee associate for Rep. Bob McEwen (R-Ohio) from 1990 to 1992.