Edward “Ted” McPherson was sworn in as USDA’s chief financial officer.

Before joining USDA, from 1992 until being sworn in to this position in October 2001 McPherson served as president and chief executive officer of InterSolve Group of Dallas, Texas. Earlier, in 1989 he had founded the business of InterSolve Group, whose mission is carrying out the agenda of chief executives by leading and assembling talent teams to accomplish important projects for those CEOs. During 1991 he served as chief financial officer for SunAmerica Corporation, a diversified financial services company based in Los Angeles. He joined First RepublicBank Corporation in Dallas in 1973 as an account executive. Then from 1983-88 he served as its executive vice president and chief financial officer, with responsibility for controllership, treasury, tax, financial planning, corporation finance, insurance, and investor relations.

McPherson worked as a management consultant in the Washington, DC office of Booz Allen & Hamilton from 1971-73, with responsibility for the development and execution of client assignments in a variety of public administration entities at the federal, state, and local government levels. He served as a line officer in the U.S. Navy from 1968-71, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, DC.

A native of Gettysburg, Pa., McPherson holds a B.A. degree in American civilization from Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., and an M.S. degree in administration from George Washington University in Washington, DC.

Sally Thompson, the previous chief financial officer, held that position from March 1998 until January 2001 and is now director of financial management and assurance with the General Accounting Office in Washington, DC. ¤