Key Leadership Changes at USDA APHIS

July 25, 2019

Dr. Jack Shere

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Administrator Kevin Shea held a call with poultry stakeholders to announce key leadership changes at the agency this week.

Dr. Jack Shere will become an Associate Administrator, filling the position previously held by Dr. Mary Bohman, who left the Agency earlier this year. Dr. Shere has been serving as Deputy Administrator for Veterinarian Services (VS) and Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) since early 2016 after many years in VS field leadership positions. In his new role, Dr. Shere will concentrate on emergency preparedness and planning, homeland and national security issues, and he will focus on the emerging African swine fever threat throughout the world.

Dr. Burke Healey, currently the VS Associate Deputy Administrator, will succeed Dr. Shere as the VS Deputy Administrator and CVO. Prior to this position, Dr. Healey held several VS field leadership positions and served as the State Veterinarian for Oklahoma.

Dr. Rosemary Sifford, currently the VS Associate Deputy Administrator for Strategy and Policy (S&P), will succeed Dr. Healey as the VS Associate Administrator. Prior to serving in this position, Dr. Sifford served in VS field leadership positions and was also an Agricultural Quarantine Inspection veterinarian for the Plant Protection and Quarantine program.

Dr. Mark Davidson will be an Associate Administrator, filling the position previously held by Mike Gregoire, who retired earlier this year. Most recently, Dr. Davidson has been serving as Deputy Administrator for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Business Services (MRPBS) after many years in Veterinary Services (VS). In this position, he will oversee the work of VS, Animal Care (AC) and MRPBS.

Ms. Bernadette Juarez will be the Deputy Administrator for Biotechnology Regulatory Services, succeeding Dr. Mike Firko, who is retiring at the end of the month. Ms. Juarez has been serving as the Deputy Administrator for AC since early 2016, after earlier service as the Director of APHIS Investigative and Enforcement Services.  Dr. Betty Goldentyer, currently AC’s Associate Deputy Administrator, will serve as Acting Deputy Administrator. Dr. Jerry Rushin will act as AC’s Associate Deputy Administrator.

Dr. Sarah Tomlinson, currently the VS Executive Director for S&P, will succeed Dr. Sifford as VS Associate Deputy Administrator for S&P. Prior to this position, Dr. Tomlinson served VS as the Coordinator for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network as well as a veterinary epidemiologist.

Dr. Thomas McKenna, currently Director for District One of VS Field Operations (FiOps), will be a new FiOps Executive Director. He will also serve as the FiOps Acting Associate Deputy Administrator while recruiting takes place for a  permanent successor to Dr. Brian McCluskey, who recently left the Agency.

All these changes will be effective on August 4, 2019.