Carlos R. Mercader

Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
Executive Director

Carlos R. Mercader was appointed by Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló as Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration (PRFAA) in Washington, D.C. on January 2017.

As PRFAA’s Executive Director, Carlos serves as the primary liaison for the Office of the Governor of Puerto Rico in Washington, D.C., and is tasked with advocating on behalf of the Government of Puerto Rico before the U.S Congress, the Executive Branch, and other national entities.

Carlos stared his career at the Disability Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, focusing in the investigation and litigation of Americans with Disabilities Act discrimination cases and assisted in Housing and State Police discrimination claims. He worked at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington D.C., in the litigation of employment related matters involving the federal government and served as an Associate Counsel at International Human Rights Group.

Prior to PRFAA, Carlos was Executive Director of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles. Carlos regularly appeared as a political strategist on national radio and cable networks, including CNN, Univisión, and Telemundo. He has contributed commentary for the Washington Examiner, The Hill, and other leading publications.

Carlos is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico and holds a BA in Marketing from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus and a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of Puerto Rico Law School in Puerto Rico.