The President of FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) since July 2010, Jon Dudas worked for the U.S. government for 14 years, culminating his career as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from 2004 to 2009. He has been acknowledged for his endeavor to modernize the intellectual protection laws as a way of favoring innovation. In the USA, over 250,000 young people between the ages of 6 and 18 years take part each year in the FIRST® programs, including the FIRST Lego League competition, which seek to promote science and technology in the educational development of youth.