Board of Advisors

Arthur J. Gajarsa
U.S. Circuit Judge

Hon. Arthur J. Gajarsa sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and brings a wealth of experience in patents, trademarks and intellectual property.

Gajarsa began his career as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, served as a law clerk for Judge Joseph McGarraghy on the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and worked as an attorney in the Department of Defense specializing in defense systems analysis and intellectual property rights. He also served as Special Counsel and Assistant to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior from 1969 to 1971.

He was nominated for appointment in January 1997 by President Bill Clinton, was confirmed by the Senate in July and entered service in September.

An Italian American, Gajarsa was born in Norcia and immigrated to the U.S. in 1949. He is the recipient of many prestigious awards including:

• Bausch and Lomb Medal, 1958
• Benjamin Franklin Award, 1958
• JFK Award for Public Service, 1974
• Sun and Balance Medal, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1990
• Gigi Pieri Award, Camp Hale Association, Boston, MA, 1992
• Rensselaer Key Alumni Award, 1992
• 125th Anniversary Medal, Georgetown University Law Center, 1995
• Order of Commendatore, Republic of Italy, 1995
• Alumni Fellow Award, Rensselaer Alumni Association, 1996
• Albert Fox DeMers Medal, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1999
• Paul R. Dean Award, Georgetown University Law Center, 1999

Gajarsa has served on the National Italian American Foundation, 1976-1997, general counsel, 1976-89, president, 1989-92, vice chair, 1993-96; Rensselaer Neuman Foundation, trustee, 1973-present; Foundation for Improving Understanding of the Arts, trustee, 1982-1996; Outward Bound, U.S.A., trustee, 1987-2001; John Carroll Society, Member of Board of Governors, 1992-1999; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, trustee, 1994-pesent, Vice Chairman of the Board, 1998-present; Georgetown University, Board of Regents, 1995-2001; Georgetown University Board of Directors, 2001-present.

Gajarsa and his wife, Melanie, have five children and reside in Washington, DC.

Education

B.S.E.E. - Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1962
M.A. - Economics, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., 1968
J.D. - Economics, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., 1967