United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture

The United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture is the second-highest ranking official in the United States Department of Agriculture, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Deputy Secretary becomes Acting Secretary of Agriculture in the event of the Secretary's resignation, death, or otherwise inability to fulfill the duties of the position. The Deputy Secretary performs whatever duties are prescribed to him or her by the Secretary of Agriculture. The Deputy Secretary of Agriculture is paid at level II of the Executive Schedule, meaning he or she receives a basic salary of $177,000 annually.

The position of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture was originally called the Under Secretary of Agriculture, until the title was changed in 1976. Previous Deputy Secretaries by recency include Chuck Conner (September 2005 - January 2009), Jim Moseley (August 2001 – April 2005), Richard Rominger (May 1993 – January 2001), Ann Veneman (1991–1993), and Jack Parnell (1989–1991).

In February 2009, President Obama nominated Kathleen Merrigan to be the next Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and she was confirmed as Deputy Secretary by the Senate on April 2, 2009. She was sworn into office on April 8, 2009.

Read more about United States Deputy Secretary Of Agriculture:  List of Deputy Secretaries of Agriculture, External Links

Famous quotes containing the words united states, united, states, deputy, secretary and/or agriculture:

    A sincere and steadfast co-operation in promoting such a reconstruction of our political system as would provide for the permanent liberty and happiness of the United States.
    James Madison (1751–1836)

    When Mr. Apollinax visited the United States
    His laughter tinkled among the teacups.
    I thought of Fragilion, that shy figure among the birch-trees,
    And of Priapus in the shrubbery
    Gaping at the lady in the swing.
    —T.S. (Thomas Stearns)

    The government of the United States is a device for maintaining in perpetuity the rights of the people, with the ultimate extinction of all privileged classes.
    Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)

    Not all the water in the rough rude sea
    Can wash the balm off from an anointed king;
    The breath of worldly men cannot depose
    The deputy elected by the Lord.
    William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

    The truth is, the whole administration under Roosevelt was demoralized by the system of dealing directly with subordinates. It was obviated in the State Department and the War Department under [Secretary of State Elihu] Root and me [Taft was the Secretary of War], because we simply ignored the interference and went on as we chose.... The subordinates gained nothing by his assumption of authority, but it was not so in the other departments.
    William Howard Taft (1857–1930)

    In past years, the amount of money that has had to be been spent on armaments, great and small, instead of on productive industry and agriculture and the arts, has been a disgrace to all of us in every part of the world.
    Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945)