United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Encyclopedia
The United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture is the second-highest ranking official in the United States Department of Agriculture
, appointed by the President
with the advice and consent of the Senate
. The Deputy Secretary becomes Acting Secretary of Agriculture in the event of the Secretary's resignation, death, or otherwise inability to fulfill the duties of the position. The Deputy Secretary performs whatever duties are prescribed to him or her by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Deputy Secretary of Agriculture is paid at level II of the Executive Schedule
, meaning he or she receives a basic salary of $177,000 annually.
The position of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture was originally called the Under Secretary of Agriculture, until the title was changed in 1976. Previous Deputy Secretaries by recency include Chuck Conner (September 2005 - January 2009), Jim Moseley (August 2001 – April 2005), Richard Rominger (May 1993 – January 2001), Ann Veneman
(1991–1993), and Jack Parnell
(1989–1991).
In February 2009, President Obama nominated Kathleen Merrigan
to be the next Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and she was confirmed as Deputy Secretary by the Senate on April 2, 2009. She was sworn into office on April 8, 2009.
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
, appointed by the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
with the advice and consent of the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. The Deputy Secretary becomes Acting Secretary of Agriculture in the event of the Secretary's resignation, death, or otherwise inability to fulfill the duties of the position. The Deputy Secretary performs whatever duties are prescribed to him or her by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Deputy Secretary of Agriculture is paid at level II of the Executive Schedule
Executive Schedule
Executive Schedule refers to the highest-ranked appointed positions in the executive branch of the U.S. government. The President of the United States, an elected official, appoints incumbents to these positions, most of them with the advice and consent of the Senate. They include members of the...
, meaning he or she receives a basic salary of $177,000 annually.
The position of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture was originally called the Under Secretary of Agriculture, until the title was changed in 1976. Previous Deputy Secretaries by recency include Chuck Conner (September 2005 - January 2009), Jim Moseley (August 2001 – April 2005), Richard Rominger (May 1993 – January 2001), Ann Veneman
Ann Veneman
Ann Margaret Veneman is the former Executive Director of UNICEF, a position she held from 2005 to 2010. Her appointment was announced on January 18, 2005 by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Previously, Veneman was the United States Secretary of Agriculture, the first and only woman to hold that...
(1991–1993), and Jack Parnell
Jack Parnell (politician)
Jack C. Parnell was the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture during the George H.W. Bush administration from 1989 until 1991. He had been Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture from 1987 to 1989, as Director of the California Department of Fish and Game from 1984 to...
(1989–1991).
In February 2009, President Obama nominated Kathleen Merrigan
Kathleen Merrigan
Kathleen Merrigan was sworn in as the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture on April 8, 2009.Merrigan helped develop USDA's organic labeling rules while head of the Agricultural Marketing Service from 1999-2001. Between her USDA positions, she worked at Tufts University as Director of the...
to be the next Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and she was confirmed as Deputy Secretary by the Senate on April 2, 2009. She was sworn into office on April 8, 2009.