As the Acting Regional Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Silicon Valley Regional Office, Steve Koziol carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO and is responsible for leading the USPTO's West Coast regional office in Silicon Valley. Focusing on the region and actively engaging with the community, Mr. Koziol ensures the USPTO’s initiatives and programs are tailored to the region's unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders.   Mr. Koziol has served the USPTO for over 15 years, starting as a patent examiner and working through various management roles as a supervisory patent examiner at headquarters, the Rocky Mountain Regional Office, and the Silicon Valley Regional Office.