Stephen Wilcox: Pioneering Export Controls and Sanctions Compliance
Stephen Wilcox worked as a U.S. government official for 25 years, serving in the Bureau of Industry and Security at the U.S. Department of Commerce to protect international trade compliance. In 2023, he founded his own company: Export, Controls, and Sanctions Advisory Group (ECS Advisors), now one of the most prominent international export controls and sanctions consulting firms.
Wilcox's journey in this specialized field began with his service in the U.S. Air Force as a Russian cryptologic linguist, then onto governmental roles as a senior special agent and foreign area officer, which provided him with a unique perspective on the complexities of international trade regulations. His company is based on a similar framework to the Export Control Society from Sweden, promoting interdisciplinary interactions between lawyers, companies, and operators.
When co-founding ECS Advisors with colleague Thomas Andrukonis, Wilcox emphasized the importance of continuously learning from the people around him during his transition from government service to consulting, where he now helps businesses navigate the intricate landscape of international trade regulations.
“When you're in the government service, you're generally a risk-averse person,” Wilcox said. “I learn something new [now] every day about the types of businesses that are out there, the finance aspect of it, the laws you have to comply with, [things that] have nothing to do with export controls and sanctions that pertain to actually owning and running a business.”
Wilcox is particularly passionate about fostering a culture of proactive rather than reactive compliance within organizations. He believes that successful compliance programs go beyond mere adherence to regulations, emphasizing the need for companies to understand the broader implications of their trade practices. "Our goal is not to control society or every country in the world, but to encourage positive compliance with all export controls and sanctions to change people's mindsets to want to comply with one another.”
At ECS Advisors, Wilcox focuses on creating a global framework for export controls and sanctions compliance. Wilcox's expertise lies in identifying and mitigating risks associated with illicit procurement methods, which he hopes to promote as an intrinsic motivation for the companies they work with. “With some of the companies, we can get them to want to comply because they want to actually take care of the world, and to stop focusing on making the dollar and start focusing on protecting people," he remarked.
Looking to the future, Wilcox aims to expand the reach of compliance education and awareness globally, where export controls and sanctions are universally understood and respected, not just as legal requirements but as ethical business practices. For students and professionals aspiring to enter the field of export controls and sanctions, he advises developing a strong foundation in both technical knowledge and communication skills.