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Dear APHIS Stakeholders, Partners, and Customers:
I am pleased to announce that we now have our full leadership team in the Office of the APHIS Administrator. This week, Michelle Wenberg joined Dr. Donna Lalli and myself in the Administrator’s Office as an Associate Administrator. On behalf of all of us, I wanted to share that we recognize the importance of our service and partnerships with you. I’d like to take this opportunity to briefly share how our varied backgrounds will contribute to APHIS’ vital mission.
As the former Deputy Administrator of the Agency’s Policy and Program Development unit, Michelle was responsible for the Agency’s budget, regulation development, strategic planning, and environmental compliance programs. Prior to that, she was the APHIS budget officer for a number of years and also held positions in Wildlife Services (WS), Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services, and Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). Through this experience, Michelle brings to the team a vast amount of knowledge on the overall planning and direction of APHIS policies, programs, and activities.
Last year, I shared news that Donna had joined the Administrator’s Office as Associate Administrator. As an Agency dependent on science-based policies, Donna’s robust background is a valuable asset to the team. Her previous positions include leadership roles within our WS and Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) programs. She also served as Senior Policy Advisor in the Executive Office of the President, Office of Science and Technology Policy, and as the APHIS Science Advisor.
Having served in the Administrator’s Office since 2018, and previously within PPQ and BRS, I’ve had the opportunity of working with many of you throughout the years. I am committed to achieving the Agency’s core mission, strengthening our partnerships, and building the APHIS workforce. As the former director of our Human Resources Division, I am especially aware of the need to support the resiliency and wellbeing of APHIS’ hardworking and dedicated employees.
Each of us in the Administrator’s Office brings a unique set of experiences and expertise, forming a well-rounded team – a team that is committed to serving our stakeholders, partners, and customers. We are dedicated to working collaboratively with you to support our Agency’s work and ensure U.S. agriculture continues to thrive. As we move forward, I ask that you continue to engage with us and reach out to us. We fully believe that strong and transparent relationships with you are critical to ensuring our strategies and programs are effective in responding to the challenges of the day and the future.
Mike Watson
APHIS Administrator
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