USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on May 13 that Oregon’s Alexis Taylor, who is currently Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture per appointment in December 2016 by Governor Kate Brown, as his nominee for Under Secretary for Trade and the Foreign Agriculture Affairs Committee.
Taylor, whose Oregon position includes overseeing policy directives for Oregon’s 38 programs and its 500 employees, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and minor in Communications from Iowa State University.
Vilsack said, “Alexis Taylor has dedicated her life to public service. She has not only spent her career serving the American people through her work in U.S. agricultural and trade policy but also as a Veteran of the U.S. Army. Her nomination builds upon USDA’s commitment to link U.S. agriculture to the world to enhance export opportunities for American farmers and producers and increase global food security.”
Citing Taylor’s position and experience in Oregon, the Secretary of Ag went on to say, “Alexis is a collaborative leader with a track record of working towards large-scale solutions in partnership with the communities she serves. This spirit and approach position her uniquely for this role and will ensure cohesiveness between USDA and the Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs team. I am confident Alexis is the right person to lead as we continue to address global food security, promote American exports across the globe and strengthen trade relationships with our global partners.”
