VILSACK FILLS TRADE AND FOOD AID POSTS
News Date February 02, 2010
Last week Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new appointments for key trade and food-aid positions at USDA. Darci Vetter will replace Burnham (Bud) Philbrook as deputy undersecretary for farm and foreign agricultural services. Vetter previously served at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as director of agricultural affairs and sustainable development and is currently a Senate Finance Committee Democratic staffer.
Vilsack appointed John Brewer as administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service. Brewer previously served as the associate administrator and then acting administrator since December, after Vilsack assigned Michael Michener, the previous administrator, as his representative in the U.S. embassy to the United Nations food agencies in Rome. Janet Nuzum, former commissioner for the International Trade Commission, will replace Brewer as associate administrator. Nuzum previously served as a House Ways and Means staffer and aide to former Rep. Cal Dooley, D-Calif.
Vilsack has also named Ann Tutwiler as his global food and security adviser. Tutwiler was previously president and chief executive officer of the International Food & Agriculture Trade Policy Council and recently became administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development. (By: Brett Schubert; Contact: Amy Mann)