Jennifer Moffitt | |
---|---|
![]() Moffitt in 2023 | |
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs | |
Assumed office August 13, 2021 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Leader | Tom Vilsack |
Preceded by | Greg Ibach |
Undersecretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture | |
In office February 2018 – August 2021 | |
Governor | Jerry Brown Gavin Newsom |
Deputy Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture | |
In office January 2015 – February 2018 | |
Appointed by | Jerry Brown |
Personal details | |
Born | 1980 |
Education | Brown University |
Jennifer Lester Moffitt (born 1980) is a former American organic farmer and government official from California and the current Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture in the Biden administration; she is the first woman to serve in this position. Moffitt previously served as the Undersecretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Education and career
Moffitt is a graduate of Brown University and the California Agricultural Leadership Program. She was the managing director at Dixon Ridge Farms, her family's organic walnut farm and processing operation, for ten years from 2005 to 2015. Prior to that, she worked at American Farmland Trust.[1] In 2015, she was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as Deputy Secretary at the California Department of Food and Agriculture and was promoted to Undersecretary in 2018. In 2019, she was reappointed to serve as Undersecretary by Governor Gavin Newsom.[2]
On April 27, 2021, President Joe Biden announced Moffitt to be his nominee to be the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.[1] Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross endorsed the nomination.[3] On April 28, 2021, her nomination was sent to the Senate.[4] On July 26, 2021, her nomination was reported favorably out of committee.[5][6] On August 11, 2021, she was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote.[6][7]
Personal life
Moffitt is the daughter of Russ and Kathy Lester and grew up on her family's organic walnut farm in Winters, California. She is married to Gregory Moffitt, an educator and former school principal. She lives in Washington, DC with her family.
References
- ^ a b "President Biden Announces Key Administration Nominations", White House, April 27, 2021
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "CDFA - Public Affairs - Executive Staff Biographies". www.cdfa.ca.gov. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "California organic farmer nominated as USDA undersecretary". Farm Progress. April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Nominations Sent to the Senate", White House, April 28, 2021
- ^ "Committee clears Biden nominee Moffitt for vote in Senate". Successful Farming. 2021-07-27. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
- ^ a b "PN481 - Nomination of Jennifer Lester Moffitt for Department of Agriculture, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
- ^ "Full Senate approves USDA Undersecretary Moffitt". Farm Progress. 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-08-23.