John-Yusef Menkaure is a Strategic Planning Project Manager in the Office of the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations who has worked at the USPTO since August 2014. He is also a former U.S. Air Force Veteran with over 10 years of service. Originally from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, he entered the military from New Orleans, Louisiana in 1997 at the “late” age of 24.

John joined the Air Force because the military offered him an opportunity for citizenship, to get a college education and to travel the world. “Once I joined,” John stated, “world events conspired to plunge America into conflict for most of my career, but it was the sense of comradery that kept me serving for 10 years.”

His best memories are of preparing and delivering humanitarian care packages to civilians during disasters and wartime in various places around the world.

The mission of the UMA, or USPTO Military Association, is to provide fellowship, mentorship, and advocacy for military veterans working at the USPTO, and to help educate others on the important contributions that veterans have made – and continue to make – to the workforce and our nation. For more information about the UMA, visit their website or Facebook page.

UMA membership is open to all USPTO employees, veterans and non-veterans alike. If you are interested in joining, please contact uma@uspto.gov.