Kevin Shea has been named associate administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

“Kevin has been an asset to this agency for more than 25 years,” said W. Ron DeHaven, APHIS administrator.  “During that time, he has shown an intense interest in APHIS issues and exceptional ability to get the job done.”

This is one of two associate administrator positions under the current APHIS management structure.  In it, Shea will act as APHIS’ chief operating officer, ensuring the smooth day-to-day functioning of the agency.  To accept the new position, Shea will leave his position as the deputy administrator of APHIS’ policy and program development (PPD) staff, which he has held since August 2000.  Previously, he served as director of APHIS’ budget and accounting division for eight years, following a short period of service as PPD’s assistant director and a year of practicing law in the litigation department of the Baltimore law firm of Frank, Bernstein, Conaway and Goldman.  From 1988 to 1991, Shea served as the chief of the policy analysis and development staff of PPD.  He also worked for APHIS from 1978 to 1988 as a budget analyst, section head and chief of the program analysis branch for the budget and accounting division.

Shea received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland at College Park and a juris doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law.  A native of Washington, D.C., Shea has four children and currently resides in Adelphi, MD, with his wife Teresa.

APHIS,  a part of USDA’s marketing and regulatory program mission area, is charged with protecting U.S. agriculture from foreign animal and plant pests and diseases; controlling and eradicating certain domestic pests and diseases; administering laws pertaining to the humane care of animals; regulating the products of agriculture biotechnology and carrying out wildlife management activities.