Media Contact: 
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509
will.wiquist@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC ANNOUNCES AXEL RODRIGUEZ AS NEW FIELD DIRECTOR
Electronics Engineer and Military Officer Leads FCC Field Agents in Efforts on Pirate Radio, Post-Disaster Communications Restoration, and Enforcement
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WASHINGTON, October 9, 2020—The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau today announced that Axel Rodriguez is the Commission’s new Field Director, leading the Bureau’s field office staff in its work combatting harmful interference to authorized uses of the airwaves, supporting restoration of communications after disasters, and investigating rule violations and other illegal activities.  Field agents are the eyes and ears of the Commission across the country, and their work is crucial to ensuring that wireless communications operate as expected. 

“The work of our field offices is essential to meeting the FCC’s mission to ensure that the nation’s spectrum is put to good use,” said Rosemary Harold, Chief of the Enforcement Bureau.  “I thank Axel for his willingness to step up to this new and important role.  He brings his broad expertise to our enforcement operations at a time when demand for spectrum has never been greater.  Because of his earlier work at the Commission, Axel knows how the latest wireless devices are supposed to work in the real world.  And thanks to his military service and intelligence work, Axel has considerable understanding of many private and government uses of the spectrum, including terrestrial wireless, broadcasting, and satellite operations.  We are lucky to have him.”

Mr. Rodriguez took this position after having served since 2013 as a supervisor in the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology lab.  Prior to joining the Commission, he worked as an
electronics engineer for the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, and in the Army Research Laboratory’s Directed Energy branch.  Mr. Rodriguez also has two decades of both active duty and reserve experience in the U.S. military including as a cyber warfare officer, communications director, and battalion signal officer.  He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lehigh University and master’s degrees in engineering and electrical engineering from the University of Maryland and George Washington University respectively.  Mr. Rodriguez officially began work as field director late last month.

The Enforcement Bureau’s Field Director oversees 13 field offices.  FCC field staff are responsible for on-the-ground investigations and engaging with those who may have violated the Commission’s rules. 

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Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov 

This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).