John . Cottingham
US Patent & Trademark Office
John Cottingham joined the PTO in February 1998 as a mechanical examiner in TC 3600 after graduating from the University of Florida with an Environmental Engineering Degree. His first examiner position focused on both 403 (Joints and Connections) and 256 (Fences) for patent applications. After obtaining his primary examiner certificate, John transferred to TC 2100 as an electrical examiner. In 2005, John graduated with his Juris Doctor degree from Catholic University in Washington DC and subsequently became a member of the Maryland Bar. John then went on to become an SPE in TC 2100 and worked in several workgroups before moving on to the Commissioner's Office, where he became the Chief of Staff for the former DCPEP and current Commissioner, Drew Hirshfeld. After leaving the Commissioner's Office, John became the Director of the Office of Petitions where he received a Gold Medal for improving the Patent Term Adjustment Calculator. John was promoted to the Senior Executive Service (SES) and took over as the Director of the Central Reexamination Unit in 2016.
(07/20)
