Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed Ron Hicks to lead the Office of Food Safety during the interim of the incoming administration.  Mr. Hicks recently served as FSIS’ Chief Operating Officer.  In this position, he monitored the daily operations of the Agency with a focus on the design, operations and improvement of FSIS’ management systems.  He also served as an Assistant Administrator for the Office of Program Evaluation, Enforcement and Review, Acting Associate Administrator for FSIS as well as Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Management.  He is a native of Washington, D.C.; in 1973, he received a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Catholic University, and in 1976 a law degree from Catholic University Columbia School of Law.

Mr. Hicks, wish you the very best.  Please take the time to read, "Open Letter to a New Under Secretary for Food Safety – FSIS – The End of E. coli Conservatism."