The Trump administration has named Jaye Hamby director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and appointed new policy advisers, chiefs of staff for four USDA mission areas, and senior personnel for communications and external relations.
Hamby “led and directed proprietary research efforts” before joining USDA, according to a department press release. He has a doctorate in agricultural education with a specialization in ag economics from Oklahoma State University. NIFA provides research grants to colleges and universities.
James Miller is serving as administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service. Miller has “extensive senior leadership experience in financial and operational management across the healthcare, nonprofit, and government sectors,” the release says.
Alveda King, a niece of Martin Luther King Jr., has been named a senior adviser on faith and community outreach. She has chaired the America First Policy Institute’s Center for the American Dream, founded Alveda King Ministries, and co-founded She Leads Georgia and Speak for Life.
Seth Christensen, who has been assistant agency director and chief of media, communications and preparedness for the Texas Division of Emergency Management, is director of communications. He has a law degree from South Texas College of Law.
Alec Varsamis has returned to USDA as deputy director of communications. He was press secretary during the first Trump administration.
Natalie Ihrman, a former aide to Sens. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Marsha Blackburn, is now serving as press secretary.
Audra Weeks, who served as deputy press secretary at USDA during the first Trump administration, was named director of external and intergovernmental affairs.
Brian Mizoguchi has returned to USDA’s Office of General Counsel as deputy general counsel. He previously was as an associate and assistant general counsel and worked in the Department of Justice. He has a law degree from George Washington.
Jordan Bonfitto is now chief of staff for marketing and regulatory affairs. He previously served as director of government affairs at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.
Trey Forsyth is the chief of staff for food safety. He came to the department from the GOP staff of the Senate Ag Committee. During the first Trump administration he was an adviser to Gregg Doud, then the chief agricultural trade negotiator.
Riley Pagett is chief of staff for trade and foreign agricultural affairs. Pagett, who has a law degree from American University, was deputy chief of staff for Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kan., and previously served as chief of staff for USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement.
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The chief of staff for research, education and economics is Ricki Schroeder, a former aide to the House Ag Committee.
Elsewhere in the department:
–Tucker Stewart is deputy assistant secretary for congressional relations. He has been general counsel and a senior ag adviser to Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan.
–Alison Slagell is a senior policy adviser to Rollins for marketing and regulatory programs, farm production and conservation, and immigration. She was recently deputy chief of staff for Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla.
–Courtney Knupp is a senior adviser to the deputy secretary and senior policy adviser to Rollins for trade and food safety. She most recently served as the vice president of international market development at the National Pork Board. She had several roles in the department during the first Trump administration.
–Kelsey Barnes, who until recently was director of government affairs for the Farm Journal Foundation, is a senior adviser to Rollins for rural development. She previously served as chief of staff for the Rural-Business Cooperative Service at USDA.
–T.W. Shannon is a senior adviser to Rollins for rural prosperity. He served as speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2013 to 2024.
–Bailey Archey will be a policy adviser in the Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area, focusing on issues related to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. She has a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Mississippi State University.
–David Matthews is the director of state operations in the Rural Development mission area. He previously had jobs with the Food and Nutrition Service, the Farm Service Agency, and as a representative of the White House.
–Carlee Tousman is director of special projects. Prior to joining USDA, she was director of events at Teneo and deputy communications director for the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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