The United States and China in the Global Economy and Financial System

Michael Hirson, U.S. Treasury Financial Attaché, U.S. Embassy Beijing

Michael Hirsonis the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Attaché to China. Prior to his appointment in December 2013, he was a senior associate for international finance and economics at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He previously held a number of positions at U.S. Treasury, including Deputy Director of the Office of Middle East and North Africa (2011-2012), International Economist for China in the Office of East Asia (2009-11), and U.S. Financial Attaché to Afghanistan (2008).

A graduate of Pomona College, Michael has an MA in International Affairs, concentrating on International Economics and China Studies, from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Brendan Kelly, U.S. Treasury Deputy Financial Attaché, U.S. Embassy Beijing

Brendanhas served as the U.S. Treasury Department’s Deputy Financial Attache in Beijing since October 2014. In this capacity, Brendan supports communication and policy discussions between the U.S. Treasury Department and Chinese economic and financial officials, as well as working closely with U.S. financial regulators to facilitate their engagement Chinese financial regulatory counterparts.

From 2012-2014, Brendan served an international economist in Treasury’s Office of International Banking and Securities Markets, where he was responsible for China and Southeast Asia financial sector issues, corporate governance, accounting, and other capital markets issues. Brendan also led the U.S. delegation to the OECD’s Corporate Governance Committee, serving as Vice Chair of the Committee from 2012-2014.

Brendan joined the Treasury Department in 2009, and previously worked as a Policy Advisor in Treasury’s Office of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED). Prior to Treasury, he served in the Office of Secretary of Defense (2007-2009) and as a Legislative Aide in the Office of Senate Majority Leader William H. First (2004-2006). Brendan holds a BA in Social Studies from Harvard University and an MA in International Economics and China Studies from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University.