Export Compliance Solutions Auditors
Suzanne Palmer
Patricia Dudley
Susan Clark
Charles (Chip) Palmer
Ginger Carney
Suzanne Palmer, President, Export Compliance Solutions
Suzanne Palmer founded Export Compliance Solutions LLC (ECS) after 15 years of experience in the State Department followed by five years of hands-on import and export work in the defense industry sector. The company is well-known for its training academy that was developed to assist the defense industry in their understanding of the very complex maze of federal regulations that controls exports and imports administered by the Departments of State and Commerce. Ms. Palmer served on the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) and was appointed by State/DDTC as a Special Compliance Official (SCO) to a local defense company.
Prior to founding the company, Ms. Palmer worked as Manager of Export Compliance for the Space Department at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. As Manager of Compliance, Ms. Palmer performed all the export training for the Space Department Program Managers, created policy directives and procedures, participated in and conducted all follow-up for export audits, classified products and technology, drafted and administered export licenses and agreements and acted as the U.S. Government liaison for the Space Department.
Previous to this position, Ms. Palmer worked as the Export Manager for the Electronic Systems division of Northrop Grumman in Maryland. During her tenure, she witnessed the acquisition of Litton Corporation and managed the export activity of the existing and incoming business units. Export training, overseeing license transactions, ITAR exemption use and creating procedures for technical paper review were just a few of her responsibilities. Before joining the defense industry, Ms. Palmer worked in the U.S. Department of State and served in a variety of positions:
- Bureau of Non Proliferation where she played a central role in the establishment of the NATO WMD Center and contributed regularly to substantive debate on critical proliferation problems within the NATO Senior Political-Military Group on Proliferation.
- Arms Control & Disarmament Agency (ACDA) where she worked on conventional arms control, nonproliferation of missiles and weapons of mass destruction and regional arms control.
- Office of Defense Trade Controls (ODTC) where she oversaw licensing for various commodities.
- Office of Defense Trade Policy where she contributed to the ITAR USML review, drafted policy papers for the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) and assisted in the formulation of defense trade policy toward the former Soviet Union.
Ms. Palmer holds two Bachelor’s degrees from Mary Washington College in International Studies and French. She also earned a Masters degree from American University in International Affairs and has taken courses toward a Masters of Business Administration at Johns Hopkins University. Suzanne is married to Scott Miller and they have two children, four animals and a couple of boats. They reside in Annapolis, MD.
Patricia Dudley has an extensive background in international trade controls and direct experience working with the U.S. foreign policy and national security establishment. With more than 14 years experience with the U.S. Department of State, serving three Secretary of State’s, and more than five years of hands-on experience in the satellite services and defense industry, Ms. Dudley possesses a unique combination of Government experience with practical application and implementation. She is also an experienced auditor, public speaker and trainer.
Ms. Dudley’s last assignment with the U.S. Department of State was as a licensing officer for the Office of Defense Trade Controls (now known as the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls or DDTC). There, Ms. Dudley averaged more than 350 cases a month, specializing in USML categories VIII, XI, XII and, at that time, was DTC’s primary licensing officer for night vision. Ms. Dudley also provided training and guidance for new licensing officers and industry, and drafted decision memos and papers for the Assistant Secretary.
Soon after her departure from the State Department, Ms. Dudley went to work for Intelsat, the world’s second largest satellite owner/operator. As Senior Manager, Export Compliance and Administration for Intelsat, Ms. Dudley was instrumental in transforming an intergovernmental organization to a private corporation with a state-of-the-art international trade compliance program. Her duties included effecting policies and procedures for export compliance, due diligence process for international agents, comprehensive Denied Party Screening System, training for more than 900 employees, and Intelsat’s primary liaison to the U.S. Government’s executive agencies.
Ms. Dudley is an experienced public speaker, presenting for groups ranging from 50 to 500 attendees, and is a member of several professional trade associations, including the Society for International Affairs and the National Council for International Trade and Development. Ms. Dudley lives in Fairfax, Virginia with her husband, Rich, and their three boys
Susan Clark started her career with the U.S. export control system in 1969 when she began her government career with the Department of Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, concentrating on the Foreign Military Sales Program. In the early 70’s she worked for Navy International Program Office, then a four person operation, and had oversight of all Department of Commerce cases.
After a tour in Germany with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, she returned in 1989 to the U.S. and joined the Department of State, Office of Munitions Control. Over the next ten years she became a senior analyst acquiring expertise in all USML categories. Senior State Department officials, Congressional staffers and foreign government officials as well as the defense industry representatives relied heavily upon her expertise.
Ms. Clark joined the Department of Defense, Defense Technology Security Administration in 1999. For nearly two years, she adjudicated all export compliance cases reviewed by DoD. Ms. Clark returned to State Department in March 2001, where she became Division Chief for Night Vision, Vehicles & Vessels. At that time, she created and oversaw a management program for all Operation Enduring Freedom exports. Shortly thereafter she was selected as Special Advisor for the Director under the Defense Technology Security Initivitive (DTSI). Although this government initiative was short lived due to requirements levied on defense companies, several aircraft programs benefited from her extensive expertise in the creation of the Joint Strike Fighter Global Project Authorization and the European Fighter Multiple Program Authorization. Ms. Clark also authored the largest Brokering Authorization --the British Air Tanker Program.
During the major reorganization of the Office of Defense Trade Controls to a Directorate, Ms. Clark was reassigned to the Office of Compliance as Deputy Director. Initially, she used her managerial skills to structure and implement new office procedures and hiring of staff. She travelled extensively to U.S. and foreign defense industry and government locations to create and implement compliance programs. She worked closely with U.S. defense attorneys as an expert witness involving AECA export violations.
Due to extensive growth in the caseload of the Office of Licensing, in 2005 Ms. Clark was relocated as Deputy Director of Licensing. In 2006 she became Acting Director of Licensing and in the fall, was selected Director of Licensing. Due to personal reasons she resigned as Director and in 2010 retired from federal government service.
Ms. Clark lives in National Harbor, Md and enjoys her three grandchildren who live in nearby Virginia.
Chip’s expertise stems from the last thirty eight years where he worked in systems processes, work flow, auditing, and the integration/implementation of new systems in both the federal government and private industry. He has represented large multi-national conglomerates, mid-sized corporations, and small companies solving business and systems problems and has conducted thousands of initial audits.
Chip conducted his first formal training class in 1978 for Savin Corporation. In 2009 he conducted over 75 ITAR and EAR audits and training sessions in manufacturing plants throughout the United States. Chip joined ECS as Vice President of Training and Business Development in 2007 and has assisted hundreds of clients in implementing successful ITAR compliance programs.
Chip has introduced problem solving techniques and new programs in many departments of the U.S. Government and throughout the private business sector. His specialty is in helping clients identify root problems and successfully implement solutions that work within an organizations culture. His decades of experience as a trainer, consultant, new business executive, manager, and entrepreneur provides ECS clients with a problem solver who knows how to relate and connect people with systems and how to motivate employees to accept change.
Chip is married to Karen Palmer and resides in Fredericksburg, VA. He is passionate about the water and spends time on his waterfront land on the Northern Neck of Virginia. Their son has a music degree from Bath Spa University in the U.K., performs with the Metropolitan Opera and is an aspiring artist on Broadway.
Ginger Carney is well-versed in practical application of the ITAR and assists clients in all aspects of establishing and managing an export compliance program. She has managed export compliance programs at Varian Associates, Watkins-Johnson Company, McDonnell Douglas (acquired by Boeing in 1997), Smiths Aerospace, Northrop Grumman, and BAE Systems. These positions included experience at UK-owned companies, and responsibility for export compliance audit and training programs at the corporate level. Prior to opening her own business, Ginger was the Director Export Compliance at the Network Centric Operations Industry Consortium (NCOIC®).
Ginger began her export compliance career at the Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA) when it was created in 1983. In 1987, she left government service and continued her export licensing and compliance career in the private sector.
Ginger actively participates on committees and trade group associations. She has been an active member of the Defense Trade Advisory Group since 2005. She served on the Board of Directors of the Society for International Affairs (SIA) for eight years, culminating her service as President. She continues to be an active SIA volunteer, and has participated on the International Council for the Aircraft Industries Association.
Ginger lives and works from her home office in Bend, Oregon.