VENEMAN MAKES PERSONNEL ANNOUNCEMENTS AT USDA

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 --- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced several personnel announcements at USDA in an effort to enhance trade, animal and plant regulations, homeland security and strategic initiatives within the department. The announcements include naming Mike Neruda as Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Homeland Security and Strategic Initiatives, Dr. James G. Butler as Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services and Dr. Charles Lambert as Deputy Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.

"We have a top notch team at USDA and these individuals have proven experience and extensive management skills that will help to further enhance already strong programs related to trade, animal and plant regulations, homeland security and strategic initiatives," said Veneman. "We appreciate the dedication and commitment of each of these individuals.

Mike Neruda, Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Homeland Security and Strategic Initiatives. Mr. Neruda has served as a deputy undersecretary for Rural Development since June 2001. In his new position, Neruda will serve as a senior advisor on homeland security issues, as well as managing various strategic initiatives. He also served as a confidential assistant to Secretary Veneman during the first six months of the Bush Administration. Prior to joining USDA, Neruda was Staff Director of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation and Credit, Committee on Agriculture, U.S. House of Representatives. Neruda has served on the staff of several Members of Congress, including Rep. Fred Grandy and Senator Roger Jepsen, both of Iowa, and Senator Ed Zorinsky of Nebraska. He also served as a consultant for Representative Ron Marlenee of Montana on the House Agriculture Committee's Wheat, Soybeans, and Feedgrains Subcommittee. Neruda served in several positions in the previous Bush Administration, including Executive Assistant to Agriculture Secretary Edward Madigan and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration. Neruda is a Captain in the Navy Reserve and served on active duty during Operation Desert Storm. After the war he was chosen to serve under General Norman Schwarzkopf in various capacities. Mr. Neruda holds a M.A. in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma as well as a B.S. in General Agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Dr. James G. "Jim" Butler, Deputy Undersecretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Dr. Butler has served as USDA's deputy under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs since September 2001. In his new position, Dr. Butler will be a key advisor regarding sanitary and phytosanitary issues, as well as other trade, farm and food policies. He joins Hunt Shipman as the agency's other deputy undersecretary. Prior to joining USDA, Butler was a partner in Butler and Son Charolais Ranch, a purebred Charolais cattle operation in Brazos County, Texas where he worked for more than thirty years.

Butler was a sheep and wool specialist for Colorado State University from 1985-1987 and from 1990-2001, he worked for the Texas A&M System in various positions in administration, most recently as Deputy Vice Chancellor of Agriculture and Life Sciences. From 1987 through 1989, he was Executive Vice President of the National Wool Growers Association. He also served in leadership positions with the New Mexico Wool Growers, Texas Farm Bureau, and American International Charolais Association. Dr. Butler is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelors of science degree in animal science. He obtained a masters degree in animal science from New Mexico State University and doctorate degree in animal physiology from the University ofArizona.

Dr. Charles "Chuck" Lambert, Deputy Undersecretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Dr. Lambert will join USDA on December 2, after serving more than 15 years in various positions at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, including his current position as chief economist. Lambert has extensive experience in legislative and regulatory issues, as well as a strong background in economics, trade and marketing. At NCBA he co-staffs the policy division of the NCBA International Markets Committee and staffs the NCBA Live Cattle Marketing Council. He also has staffed the NCBA live cattle marketing committee and has extensive familiarity and issue management experience in industry structure and market conduct/performance issues including futures, packer concentration, "captive supplies," country of origin labeling and price reporting. Lambert was raised on a dryland wheat, sorghum and cow-calf operation in West-Central Kansas and returned to the family operation until 1979. Lambert graduated from Kansas State University with a B.S. in Animal Science and received an M.S. in Animal Science with a minor in Agricultural Economics. His Ph.D. in Economics with specialty areas in agricultural policy and international trade was earned at Kansas State University. In his new position, Dr. Lambert will be part of the USDA team that oversees and manages various plant and animal management issues, as well as other farm and food issues, under the jurisdiction of the marketing and regulatory agency.

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