Washington, DC
September 5, 2007
Bruce Knight, undersecretary for
marketing and regulatory programs, today announced the
appointment of Cindy J. Smith as administrator of the
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS).
“With 28 years in the Agency, Cindy Smith has learned APHIS from
the ground-up, and her diverse experience is an asset to APHIS
and USDA,” Knight said. “I look forward to working with Cindy in
this new capacity.”
As administrator, Smith will further APHIS’ mission of
protecting American agriculture and ensuring the health and care
of animals and plants. Smith replaces Dr. Ron DeHaven, who
retired on August 3, after 28 years with APHIS. DeHaven served
as administrator since 2004.
Smith began her career with APHIS in 1979 and has advanced
through the ranks, holding clerical, technical, administrative,
supervisory and executive leadership positions in the Agency.
Throughout her years, Smith has gained diverse experience in a
broad range of APHIS programs, including plant protection and
quarantine, wildlife services (WS), biotechnology regulatory
services (BRS) and the former biotechnology, biologics and
environmental protection unit.
Smith has been serving as acting administrator since August 3,
and as APHIS’ associate administrator since April. Before that,
beginning in 2002, she served as deputy administrator for BRS
and played a major role in shaping the agency’s biotechnology
regulatory structure, establishing more rigorous requirements
for field tests of genetically engineered crops and initiating
efforts to review and strengthen the agency’s overarching
biotechnology regulations. From 2001 to 2002, Smith was the
associate deputy administrator for WS, which provides federal
leadership and expertise in resolving conflicts caused by
wildlife.
In 1983, Smith completed her bachelor of science degree in
microbiology from the University of Maryland. She went on to
earn her master of science degree in business management from
the University of Maryland in 2000.
A native Marylander, Smith resides with her husband in
Woodstock, Md., close to her family that includes six children
and three grandchildren. |
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