Emphasis on Science and Research Guides Feed the Future Staffing

WASHINGTON, DC—The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Bureau for Food Security (BFS) has made great strides in fulfilling USAID’s leadership role in the President’s Feed the Future initiative. As the initiative moves forward, the importance of science and research is taking on an even larger role. USAID Administrator Dr. Rajiv Shah is pleased to announce that Julie Howard will take on a new role as Chief Scientist, BFS, and Senior Advisor to the Administrator on Agricultural Research, Extension and Education. The Administrator is also pleased to announce that Tjada McKenna will become the Feed the Future Deputy Coordinator for Development.

Over the last six months as Feed the Future Deputy Coordinator for Development, Howard has led a core team in elevating interagency engagement in Feed the Future strategic planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. Given her substantive research background, and the importance of science, technology and innovation to the President’s commitment to food security, Howard is well positioned to take on this important new role, to lead the implementation of the Feed the Future research strategy and continue her work with our national and global partners.

McKenna, in her previous role as Deputy Assistant Administrator in BFS, oversaw critical elements of USAID’s implementation of Feed the Future. In her new role, McKenna will coordinate the initiative’s implementation across the U.S. Government, oversee its execution and report on ensuring results, and lead engagement with the external community to ensure that food security remains high on the global development agenda.

Paul Weisenfeld, Assistant to the Administrator, continues his leadership of BFS, with BFS as USAID’s focal point of the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative.