The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is an independent legal agency within the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). OGC provides legal advice and services to the Secretary of Agriculture and to all other officials and agencies of the Department with respect to all USDA programs and activities. All legal services are centralized within OGC and the General Counsel reports directly to the Secretary.
The General Counsel is assisted by a Deputy General Counsel, a Senior Counselor, six Associate General Counsels, a Director of Administration and Resource Management, and four Regional Attorneys.
Leadership
Steven C. Silverman, Deputy General Counsel, 202-720-3351
James Michael Kelly, Associate General Counsel, Legislation, Litigation, & General Law, 202-720-3351
John Golden, Associate General Counsel, Marketing, Regulatory & Food Safety Programs, 202-720-3155
David P. Grahn, Associate General Counsel, Rural Development, 202-720-6187
Arlean Leland, Associate General Counsel, Civil Rights, 202-720-1760
Ralph A. Linden, Associate General Counsel, International Affairs, Commodity Programs & Food Assistance Programs, 202-720-6883
Thomas Millet , Associate General Counsel, Natural Resources, 202-720-2063
Charlene Buckner, Director, Administration and Resource Management, 202-720-6324
Andrea Foster, Regional Attorney, Atlanta, GA, 404-347-1060
Randall J. Bramer, Acting Regional Attorney, Denver, CO, 303-275-5555
Ruth M. Worthington, Regional Attorney, Kansas City, MO, 816-823-4646
Jeff Moulton, Regional Attorney, San Francisco, CA, 415-744-3011
Maria Giatrakis, President, AFGE Local 1106, San Francisco, CA, 415-744-3163
Geographic Locations
The work of the office is carried out in Washington, D. C., four regional offices, and 13 branch offices as follows:
