DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced that Dr. Andrew Hennenfent has been hired as the new Emergency Management Coordinator for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.  He will start with the Department on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 and will ensure the Department’s emergency response plans are up to date, organize disease response exercises and work with industry partners.

“We are excited for Dr. Hennenfent to get started and further strengthen our preparations for potential foreign animal disease outbreaks. With a number of African swine fever cases in China and Europe, along with ongoing concerns about avian influenza and foot and mouth disease, making sure our response plans are current and ready to be implemented is critically important,” Naig said.  “Dr. Hennenfent has broad experience as a public health veterinarian that will be a tremendous asset as he serves in this important role.”

Dr. Hennenfent grew up on a crop and livestock farm in Warren County, IL and has had a lifelong interest in animal and community health. He most recently served as the State Public Health Veterinarian for the District of Columbia. In this role he was responsible for supervising zoonotic disease investigation and response. He had previously worked as a Veterinarian in Orland Hills, IL.

Dr. Hennenfent graduated from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and earned a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.

The Department received a $250,000 appropriation from the Iowa Legislature this fiscal year to support preparations for a foreign animal disease outbreak. A portion of that funding is being used for this position.