He succeeds Margaret Focarino, who retired earlier in July after 38 years at the USPTO. Andrew Faile, deputy commissioner for patent operations, has served as acting commissioner since Focarino’s departure.
Hirshfeld has been deputy commissioner for patent examination policy since November 2011. Before that, he was for two years the USPTO chief of staff, managing operations and intergovernmental communications for then-director of the USPTO David Kappos.
He has also worked as a supervisory patent examiner and a group director of Technology Center 2100, overseeing Computer Networking and Database workgroups.
Hirshfeld began his career at the USPTO in 1994 as a patent examiner.
Pictured: Hirshfeld (left) being sworn in by Deputy Director Russ Slifer.