Jessica Mahalingappa Named Assistant Deputy Administrator for Trade and Capacity Building of APHIS’ International Services

Jessica Mahalingappa was appointed Assistant Deputy Administrator for Trade and Capacity Building of APHIS’ International Services (IS) on May 19, 2013. As Assistant Deputy Administrator, Ms. Mahalingappa is responsible for overseeing efforts to provide a strategy for trade and capacity building aligned with agency goals.

Before becoming Assistant Deputy Administrator, Ms. Mahalingappa held several key positions in APHIS bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her new position. Ms. Mahalingappa began her APHIS career working for Policy and Program Development in 1999. In 2007, she was appointed to her previous position as Assistant Director of IS’ International Technical and Regulatory Capacity Building (ITRCB) Center. As Assistant Director of ITRCB, Ms. Mahalingappa managed the coordination of technical and regulatory capacity building programs with U.S. and foreign government counterparts. These programs support sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues related to safeguarding of U.S. agriculture.

In addition to her APHIS experience, Ms. Mahalingappa served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Turkmenistan and holds a BA in International Relations from Bucknell University and MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University.

A native Pennsylvanian, Ms. Mahalingappa now resides in Takoma Park, MD.

To learn more about APHIS International Services, visit our website at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/is/