WASHINGTON (October 6, 2026) — The Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) is pleased to announce that Valencia Martin Wallace, a longtime U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) leader with more than three decades of experience in patent policy and administration, has joined its Advisory Board.
“Promoting strong intellectual property rights is critical to ensure America’s innovators can continue turning new ideas into inventions that benefit society,” said Wallace. “After spending my career working to strengthen the patent system and broaden participation in innovation, I’m honored to join C4IP and continue supporting policies that help American innovation thrive.”
Valencia retired from the USPTO in April 2026 after a 34-year career at the agency, most recently serving as Acting Commissioner for Patents. In that role, she oversaw approximately 10,000 employees, including more than 9,000 patent examiners. Previously, Valencia served in several senior leadership roles focused on patent quality, international cooperation, and patent operations.
“I had the pleasure of working with Valencia for many years at the USPTO, where I saw firsthand the expertise and leadership she brought to the agency,” said Coke Morgan Stewart, president and CEO of C4IP and former USPTO Deputy Director from 2025 to 2026. “She has devoted her career to strengthening America’s innovation ecosystem, and we are thrilled for her to continue that work as part of C4IP’s leadership team.”
“Valencia brings a deep understanding of how the U.S. patent system operates and what it takes to keep that system strong,” said David Kappos, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2009 to 2013. “Her experience advancing international patent harmonization, overseeing major patent examination functions, and helping implement the America Invents Act’s first-inventor-to-file framework will be invaluable to C4IP’s work.”
“Valencia has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to broadening participation in the U.S. innovation system, including through her leadership of the National Council for Expanding American Innovation,” said Andrei Iancu, board co-chair of C4IP and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Director from 2018 to 2021. “Her expertise in engaging innovators and other stakeholders across sectors, as well as her longstanding leadership within the Patent Office concluding as Acting Commissioner for Patents, will be a tremendous asset to C4IP.”
More information about the advisory board can be found here.
About the Council for Innovation Promotion: The Council for Innovation Promotion is a bipartisan coalition dedicated to promoting strong and effective intellectual property rights that drive innovation, boost economic competitiveness, and improve lives everywhere.