Department of Agriculture Announces Key Staff Appointments

he U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the names of individuals who will hold senior staff positions in Washington, D.C.

Rudy Soto has been appointed Acting Director of External and Intergovernmental Affairs

Rudy Soto has served as USDA’s Rural Development State Director for Idaho since January 2021. In this role, Soto has been instrumental in promoting economic development, increasing access to healthcare, and improving infrastructure in Idaho’s rural communities. Before that, Soto served as a legislative staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives, covering energy, environment, agriculture, and tribal affairs. Previously, he worked for Western Leaders Network, a nonprofit organization of local and tribal elected officials across the Interior West focused on protecting public lands, water, and air. Soto was born and raised in Nampa, Idaho, and is a proud member of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation and a veteran of the United States Army National Guard. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Portland State University.

Tom O’Halleran has been appointed Senior Advisor for the Natural Resources Conservation Service

Previously, O’Halleran served as the U.S. House Representative for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District from 2017 to 2023. He served on the House Committees on Agriculture from 2017-2022 and Energy and Commerce from 2019-2022. During his time in Congress, O’Halleran developed water policies for Arizona and other Western states and supported legislation that invested in education, veteran services, tribal communities, and health care. Before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, he served in the Arizona Senate, representing the 1st Legislative District from 2007 to 2009. In this role, he served as Chair of the Higher Education Committee and was Vice Chairman of the Health Committee. O'Halleran also served in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007. From 1966 to 1975, he served with the Chicago Police Department, then became a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, serving two terms on its board of directors. O'Halleran was born and raised in Chicago, IL.

Cindy Axne has been appointed Senior Advisor for Rural Engagement, Delivery and Prosperity

Before joining USDA, Axne served as the U.S. House Representative for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District from 2019 to 2023. She served on the House Committees on Agriculture and Financial Services and Co-Chaired the Congressional Rural Caucus. During her time in Congress, Axne supported legislation that helped Iowa’s local producers and farmers and joined the Rural Broadband Task Force to ensure Iowans could access high-speed internet. Her legislation, the Sergeant Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act, was signed into law in 2021, expanding access to care for rural veterans. Before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, she served as Principal at Axne Consulting Group. Prior, Axne held multiple senior-level positions for the State of Iowa in the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Management, and Department of Administrative Services. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Iowa and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management.

Carlton Bridgeforth has been appointed Senior Advisor for Research, Education, and Economics

Before joining USDA, Bridgeforth worked for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture starting in March 2018. In this role, he advised Chairman David Scott (D-GA), House Agriculture Committee members, and staff on issues pertaining to the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee and the Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Subcommittee. Bridgeforth is a Partner at Bridgeforth Farms, where he worked full-time from 2012-2018; in this role, he managed commodity contract pricing, crop input costs and inventory, supply chain logistics, and business development. Concurrently, he was appointed to the United Sorghum Checkoff Program and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade. Before returning to the farm in 2012, Bridgeforth worked in New York at Bank of America and Deutsche Bank. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College.

Source: usda.gov

Photo Credit: USDA