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ASHS 2015 Annual Conference

ASHS Opening Plenary Session and William A. ('Tex') Frazier Lecture

Objective(s):
Dr. Shafer has devoted his entire professional career to public service in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Effective May 2014, he serves as Associate Administrator for National Programs in the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). In this position, he is the senior leader and manager for planning, prioritizing, and budgeting ARS’ comprehensive agricultural research programs. Prior to this appointment, he was Director of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (2012-2014), USDA’s largest research installation located just outside Washington, D.C. He served as Deputy Administrator for Natural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the ARS Office of National Programs (2008-2012), with concurrent appointment as Senior Advisor for Climate Science in the Office of the Chief Scientist, USDA (2009-2010). He was the ARS Midwest Area Director (2006-2008), following appointment as the Midwest Area’s Associate Director (2005-2006), with senior management responsibilities for all ARS research in 8 states. He was the ARS National Program Leader for Global Change research (2000-2005); Deputy Director for Environment and Plant Health in the USDA Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis (1998-2000); and a plant pest risk analyst in the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (1997-1998). During 1983-1997, he was a Research Plant Pathologist in ARS’ Air Quality-Plant Growth and Development Research Unit at Raleigh, NC, with concurrent faculty appointment in the Plant Pathology and Soil Science departments at North Carolina State University. His research focused on interactions of air quality with plants, pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms, and soils. Dr. Shafer received the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Presidential Rank Award in 2011 and the USDA Secretary’s Honor Award in 2012. He received B.S. Agr. and M.S. degrees from The Ohio State University and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University, all in plant pathology. He is a native of Marion, Ohio.
Tuesday, August 4, 2015: 10:00 AM
Rhythms (Sheraton Hotel New Orleans)