Dehaven Leaving APHIS to Lead AMVA

News Date March 26, 2007

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services' (APHIS) Administrator Ron DeHaven has announced he has been offered the position of executive vice president/CEO of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). In this capacity, he will be in a leadership position in the organization that represents 73,000 veterinarians at a time when the profession is at a crossroads. The U.S. is facing a future where the intersection of animal health and public health, and food supply veterinary medicine, is becoming critical to meeting the needs of a global society. DeHaven is planning to remain the APHIS administrator for a few months to ensure an orderly transition for the agency. 

DeHaven was appointed APHIS administrator in April 2004. DeHaven had served as deputy administrator for APHIS' Veterinary Services' program since April 2002, where he provided leadership in safeguarding U.S. animal health. He also served as acting associate administrator for APHIS from October 2001 through April 2002. 

From 1996 to 2001, DeHaven was the deputy administrator for the Animal Care (AC) unit of APHIS, administering the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act. Before assuming the deputy administrator position, DeHaven was AC's western regional director in Sacramento, California, for seven years. 

DeHaven was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He obtained a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Purdue University in 1975 and a master's in business administration from Millsaps College in May 1989. After graduating from veterinary school, he spent four years in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps before beginning his career with APHIS in 1979. (Contact: Bob Ehart)