Danielle F. Waterfield

Danielle served most recently as the Acting Director of Intergovernmental Affairs in the External & Government Affairs division of the CHIPS Program Office in the U.S. Department of Commerce. She was promoted to the Acting Director role in January 2025 following two years as both a senior advisor and intergovernmental affairs specialist for the CHIPS Program Office. She is honored to be counted among the initial CHIPS strategy team that joined the Department in May 2023 shortly after enactment of the CHIPS & Science Act where she analyzed a wide variety of political, economic, and environmental issues involving implementation of the Act. As an intergovernmental affairs specialist, Danielle communicated with various departments, agencies, and stakeholders and facilitates open dialogue through a bi-partisan network of federal, state and local government officials to further the CHIPS Program mission.

Prior to joining the CHIPS for America team, Danielle served in various private sector government relations positions spanning the course of 25 years, including the role of Chief Policy Officer for the newly branded Recycled Materials Association. She is most proud of her role as chief architect of the organization’s state policy program and time served on the NCSL Foundation Board of Directors.  Danielle started her career as U.S. Senate legislative floor staff and is now a licensed Virginia attorney. She splits her free time between volunteering with a local animal rescue group and supporting her son’s various extracurricular varsity sports activities.

Since her departure from CHIPS following restructuring and cutbacks, Danielle is seeking new professional opportunities, and is volunteering as a pro bono attorney advisor for the Federal Workers Legal Defense Network and for Legal Services of Northern Virginia, where she is learning valuable new legal expertise in the employment law field.