Mr. Vaccaro assumed the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Defense Trade Controls in January 2024, where he oversees the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, ensuring that U.S. commercial exports of defense articles and defense services advance U.S. national security and foreign policy objectives.

Mr. Vaccaro has been a member of the Senior Executive Service since 2013. Mr. Vaccaro joined the State Department from the Department of Defense (DoD) where he served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (2022-2024) and as the Director for International Armaments Cooperation (2019-2022). In these roles, he led and supported DoD’s efforts to develop and maintain the U.S. defense industrial base to ensure a secure supply of materials critical to national security. He also advised the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment in managing DoD’s cooperative relationships with foreign countries and served as the United States’ Deputy National Armaments Director. Mr. Vaccaro also co-chaired bilateral forums with key European, Indo-Pacific, and Western Hemisphere allies and partners to further armaments cooperation.

Mr. Vaccaro previously served as the Director of the Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security in the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) (2013-2019). In this position, Mr. Vaccaro was responsible for implementing BIS’s defense trade, industrial base, and foreign investment programs. Prior to assuming his duties as office director, Mr. Vaccaro served in other senior positions within the Office of Strategic Industries and Economic Security. Before joining Commerce in 2000, Mr. Vaccaro held government affairs and research positions with international trade and consulting organizations in Washington, DC.

Mr. Vaccaro is a recipient of the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service. While at Commerce, he received meritorious service awards for his role in implementing export control reform and supporting emergency preparedness. Mr. Vaccaro holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and National Security Studies Program. Mr. Vaccaro is also a distinguished graduate of the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces.