Frederick T. Knickerbocker became the U.S. Census Bureau's associate director for Economic Programs in March 1995, and retired in April 2005. As associate director for Economic Programs, he was responsible for nearly 100 separate monthly, quarterly, and annual economic and business surveys, the quinquennial economic and government censuses, and preparation of many of the nation's principal economic indicators.
From 1981 until 1995, Mr. Knickerbocker served as the executive director of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economics and Statistics Administration. In the late 1970s, he served as the Department of Commerce's deputy assistant secretary for Industry Policy and the deputy assistant secretary for International Policy Coordination.
Before joining the Department of Commerce, Mr. Knickerbocker was a member of the faculty of the Harvard Business School and an executive at pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company.
Mr. Knickerbocker was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and a graduate of Williams College (B.A.), University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School (M.B.A.), and Harvard University (D.B.A.).
Interview conducted on July 13, 2005.