Prior to becoming an attorney, Bruce Leeds was an Import Specialist at the U.S. Customs Service, Los Angeles for 8 years. During this period he was promoted to Team Leader and his area of expertise included semi-conductors. Bruce then joined Hughes Aircraft Company where he worked for over two decades in various positions related to import and export compliance. In this role, he managed export/import documentation, compliance and license functions, and directly supervised from 20 to 27 employees. He was also responsible for establishing policies and procedures, conducting compliance investigations, and assisting subsidiaries in several states with export/import issues. He then joined Hughes Space and Communications Company as a Senior Export/Import Advisor where he was responsible for export/import compliance for all foreign subcontracts and associated activities, Customs policy, drawback and applying for export licenses and agreements under both Department of State and Commerce regulations. For the next ten years, Bruce worked at Boeing Satellite Systems Inc.,/Boeing Shared Services Group followed by his most recent position as a Senior Export/Import Advisor, at The Boeing Company.
At Boeing, Bruce served as the internal expert on import and export laws and regulations. His accomplishments included chairing the Global Committee established within the Office of Internal Governance to provide research, response, and guidance on US and non-US changes to export-import laws, regulations and procedures. Additionally, Bruce was appointed as a company representative to the Private Sector Consultative Group to the World Customs Organization. Bruce has held a number of prestigious leadership positions over the years and continues to do so. For example, he has served on the Board of Directors, Foreign Trade Association of Southern California for over twenty years. In 2001, he served as the President of this association. He has also been active in the American Association of Exporters and Importers (AAEI) where he has served as the Co-Chair of the Western Regional Committee of AAEI since 2004, and as a Member of the Board of Governors since 2008. Recognized for his wealth of knowledge, Bruce was appointed by the Treasury Secretary and the Secretary of Homeland Security to serve for two terms on the Departmental Advisory Committee on the Commercial Operations of US Customs & Border Protection (COAC). He also served as the Chair of COAC in 2007 and 2008. Bruce is involved in CBP’s Trade Support Network, where he has been an active member since 2004. Bruce also serves on the Private Sector Advisory Committee and SAFE Working Group of the World Customs Organization. A well-known and articulate speaker, Bruce has taught numerous classes and seminars on export and import topics for several organizations including, AAEI, FTA, and ICPA, among others. He has also been a frequent guest lecturer at the University of California, Los Angeles; University of Southern California; Long Beach State College; California State University Dominguez Hills; and Loyola Marymount University. Bruce received his B.A. from California State University, Los Angeles, and his JD (Cum Laude) from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law. He has also attended post graduate studies at California State University, Los Angeles, and the University of Maryland.