September 6, 2007

Smith Named USDA-APHIS Administrator

Bruce Knight, undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 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.