U.S. Department of Commerce Appoints Bill Frauenhofer as Director of CHIPS Program Office | NIST
webCredibility Rating
Gold standard. Rigorous peer review, high editorial standards, and strong institutional reputation.
Rating inherited from publication venue: NIST
This press release announces a leadership appointment at the CHIPS Program Office, which oversees $39 billion in semiconductor manufacturing incentives. Semiconductor supply chain resilience and domestic chip production are foundational to AI capabilities and national AI competitiveness, making this governance appointment tangentially relevant to AI safety infrastructure.
Metadata
Summary
The U.S. Department of Commerce appointed Bill Frauenhofer as Director of the CHIPS Program Office, overseeing $39 billion in semiconductor manufacturing incentives under the CHIPS and Science Act. Frauenhofer brings 30 years of investment banking experience, including as Global Head of Semiconductor Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley. The appointment is framed around advancing domestic semiconductor manufacturing and U.S. AI competitiveness.
Key Points
- •Bill Frauenhofer appointed as Director of the CHIPS Program Office, overseeing $39 billion in semiconductor manufacturing incentives.
- •Frauenhofer has 30 years of investment banking experience, most recently as Global Head of Semiconductor Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley.
- •Secretary Lutnick explicitly linked the CHIPS program to advancing U.S. AI capabilities and 'winning the AI race'.
- •The appointment signals a focus on reshoring semiconductor manufacturing and rebuilding domestic supply chain resilience.
- •Frauenhofer transitions from private sector finance to federal civil service to lead the program into its next phase.
Cached Content Preview
U.S. Department of Commerce Appoints Bill Frauenhofer as Director of CHIPS Program Office | NIST
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
Lock
A locked padlock
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2025/07/us-department-commerce-appoints-bill-frauenhofer-director-chips-program
UPDATES
U.S. Department of Commerce Appoints Bill Frauenhofer as Director of CHIPS Program Office
July 28, 2025
Share
Facebook
Linkedin
X.com
Email
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced the hiring of Bill Frauenhofer as the Director of the CHIPS Program Office. Mr. Frauenhofer will assume leadership over the implementation of $39 billion in semiconductor manufacturing incentives under the CHIPS and Science Act.
In this role, he will advance the CHIPS Program Office into a new era as it delivers much better deals than the previous administration for the U.S. taxpayer. CHIPS continues its critical work investing in the domestic semiconductor industry and rebuilding resilience across the semiconductor supply chain.
Mr. Frauenhofer transitions to federal civil service with an impressive 30-year career in investment banking, with significant expertise in the semiconductor and technology sectors. Most recently he served as Global Head of Semiconductor Investment Banking and Head of West Coast Technology Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley.
He brings a proven track record in advising global clients on a comprehensive spectrum of capital markets transactions, including initial public offerings (IPOs), equity and convertible securities, debt financings, and complex domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Frauenhofer is widely recognized for his integrity, work ethic, and ability to deliver exceptional strategic guidance.
“Semiconductors are fundamental to advancing our AI capabilities. Bill Frauenhofer’s leadership will revitalize semiconductor manufacturing in America and deliver on this administration’s commitment to winning the AI race,” said Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
“It is a truly exciting opportunity to join the Commerce Department and lead the CHIPS program into its next chapter,” stated Bill Frauenhofer, Director of the CHIPS Program Office. “I believe in this administration’s mission to rebuild a robust domestic semiconductor ecosystem and reshore American semiconductor manufacturing and jobs.”
R
... (truncated, 3 KB total)54d99f35d57b8ca4 | Stable ID: sid_ZIMgnLQMCA