Grainnet

WASHINGTON, DC -- Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman on Oct. 12 announced four major appointments in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Thomas Hunt Shipman

She announced the selection of Thomas Hunt Shipman as deputy under secretary for farm and foreign agricultural services.

"Hunt brings a great deal of experience to this position," Veneman said. "He has a great deal of knowledge and understanding of the programs and issues that are important in this critical position."

As deputy, Shipman will provide leadership to agencies and programs within the Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services mission. He will offer general direction of programs administered by the Farm Service Agency and the Commodity Credit Corp., the Risk Magement Agency and the Federal Crop Insurance Corp., and the Foreign Agricultural Service. These agencies are comprised of over 18,000 employees and administer over $34 billion in USDA programs.

Shipman, who has been advising Veneman at USDA since January, previously worked fo U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-MS, on two separate occasions. Most recently, Shipman served as Sen. Cochran's legislative assistant for four years advising him on agricultural, environmental, and foreign policy issues and appropriations for the departments of agriculture, interior, and state and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

It was the legislative assistant position for Sen. Cochran that brought Shipman in 1992, where he advised the senator on issues associated with natural resources, environment, food and drug regulation, forestry, and appropriations for the departments of interior and enrgy and the Environmental Protection Agency until 1995.

In between his two terms of duty with the senator's staff, Shipman worked as a staff member from 1995 to 1997 for the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and related agencies of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

Shipman is a native of Dyersburg, TN. He received his bachelor's degree in agribusiness in May 1992 from Mississippi State University, Starkville, where he served as the graduate assistant to the dean of agriculture and home economics that same year.

Shipman is a member of the Mississippi State University Hall of Fame, and in 1998, he received the university's Alumni Achievement Award. He is married, with three children.

Wanda Worsham

Veneman announced the selection of Wanda Worsham as deputy assistant secretary for congressional relations. In this position, Worsham has responsibility for coordinating legislative affairs and intergovernmental relations for USDA.

"Wanda brings a wealth of experience as she returns to USDA in this position," said Veneman. "Her extensive knowledge will serve USDA well as we work with the Congress to address the important issues facing agriculture and our farmers."

Worsham comes to her position with 19 years experience working with committees of Congress and 10 years experience with USDA. From 1994 until her present position, she was chief clerk for the House Committee on Agriculture.

Prior to that, she was the minority staff consultant for the House Committee on Agriculture. From 1982 to 1992, she served as a legislative officer for USDA, covering food safety regulation, biotechnology, biological control and pesticides, commodity marekting and promotion, animal and plant health, food assistance programs, and agricultural research.

Worsham started her career as assistant clerk for the House Committee on the District of Columbia for four years before becoming administrative assistant to minority counsel for the House Committee on Agriculture from 1975 to 1982. A native of Nashville, TN, Worsham received her bachelor's degree in busienss education from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute.

Mike Neruda

Veneman announced the appointment of Michael Neruda as the deputy under secretary for rural development.

"I'm extremely pleased with the experience that Mike brings to the USDA team," said Veneman. "He will be an asset to the department as it strategically plans rural development policy for the new century."

Neruda, a native of rural Nebraska, brings extensive knowledge of agricultural and management issues to USDA as a result of his many years of service for the U.S. Congress and USDA.

During his years of congressional service, he worked for a number of U.S. senators and members of Congress and served as the staff director for the House Committee on Agriculture's Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation and Credit. Neruda also served during the previous Bush Administration as the executive assistant to then Agriculture Secretary Edward Madigan, where he provided direction and guidance on field structure and management issues.

Neruda, a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve, received the Bronze Star for his service on active duty during Operation Desert Storm. After the war, he was chosen to return to the United States with Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf to manage all aspects of the general's participation in public events.

He is the father of two children, Michael and Stephanie, and holds a bachelor's degree in general agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Oklahoma. Neruda currently resides in Bethesda, MD.

Alisa Harrison

Veneman announced the selection of Alisa Harrison as deputy director of communications and press secretary at USDA.

"I am delighted that Alisa is joining our team of communications professionals at USDA," said Veneman. "Alisa brings with her a tremendous amount of media and public affairs experience, coupled with an important understanding of consumer issues and our nation's food and agricultural system."

Prior to her appointment, Harrison served as executive director of public relations for the National Cattlemen's Beef Assocaition (NCBA). NCBA, a consumer-focused, producer-directed organization that represents the largest segment of the nation's food and fiber industry, is also the marketing organization and trade association for America's cattle ranchers and feeders. At NCBA, Harrison managed all media relations and public relations activities deisgned to support consumer marketing and public policy goals.

Before joining NCBA in 1986, Harrison worked for the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee, where she also completed graduate work in education. She is a member of the National Press Club, and the National AgriMarketing Association.

Harrison is expected to join USDA officially on Nov. 1. Her appointment completes a team of senior level communications officials, including Kevin Herglotz, who will continue to serve as deputy chief of staff and director of communications. Among other responsibilities, Harrison will manage USDA's day-to-day media operations, a role that Herglotz has been filling since Veneman assumed office in January 2001.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• U.S. Department of Agriculture

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