U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the latest slate of presidential appointments, bringing new leadership to key roles within USDA. A familiar name in the U.S. pork industry — Courtney Knupp — was among the appointees selected to implement President Trump’s America First agenda at USDA to ensure the needs of America’s farmers, ranchers and producers remain a top priority.
Knupp most recently held the role of vice president of international market development at the National Pork Board. She will now be serving as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary for Trade and Food Safety.
Previously, Knupp served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of Administration and held numerous leadership roles across USDA in the first Trump Administration. A native of a diversified family farm in Iowa, Knupp holds a degree in agricultural business and international agriculture from Iowa State University.
“Agriculture is the backbone of America, and strong leadership at the People’s Department is key to America’s continued success. I’m proud to welcome this team of experienced, dedicated professionals to USDA,” Rollins said in a release. “Together, we’ll work to promote rural prosperity and ensure those who feed and fuel the world can do so without regulatory burdens standing in the way.”
Other appointees include:
Bailey Archey, Policy Advisor in the Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Kelsey Barnes, Senior Advisor to the Secretary
Bill Beam, Administrator for the Farm Service Agency
Aubrey Bettencourt, Chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service
Jordan Bonfitto, Chief of Staff for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Seth W. Christensen, Director of Communications
Trey Forsyth, Chief of Staff for Food Safety
Jaye L. Hamby, Director of National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Natalie Ihrman, Press Secretary
Alveda King, Senior Advisor on Faith and Community Outreach
Maggie Linden, Senior Advisor for Marketing and Regulatory Programs
David Matthews, Director of State Operations for Rural Development
James Miller, Administrator for Food and Nutrition Service
Brian Mizoguchi, Deputy General Counsel
Riley Pagett, Chief of Staff for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs
Ricki Schroder, Chief of Staff for Research, Education, and Economics
Alison Slagell, Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary
Tucker Stewart, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations
Pat Swanson, Administrator for the Risk Management Agency
T.W. Shannon, Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Rural Prosperity
Carlee Tousman, Director of Special Projects
Alec Varsamis, Deputy Director of Communications
Audra Weeks, Director of External and Intergovernmental Affairs
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