Chavonda Jacobs-Young

MEMBER SINCE: 2019

Dr. Jacobs-Young was Senate confirmed as the United States Department of Agriculture’s Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics on June 8, 2022. Under Dr. Jacobs-Young’s leadership is the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, the National Agricultural Statistics Service, and the Office of the Chief Scientist. For over two decades, Dr. Jacobs-Young, a two-time Presidential Rank Award recipient federal senior executive, has been a leader for advancing our Nation’s ability to deliver scientific solutions to the highest priority agricultural research challenges. She is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

History of Employment

Position

Division

Organization

Start

End

Under Secretary & Chief Scientist

Research, Education, & Economics

U.S. Department of Agriculture

2022

2025

Administrator

Agricultural Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

2014

2022

Acting Chief Scientist

Office of Secretary

U.S. Department of Agriculture

2017

2021

Acting Under Secretary

Research, Education, and Economics

U.S. Department of Agriculture

2021

Acting Deputy Under Secretary

Research, Education, and Economics Mission Area

U.S. Department of Agriculture

2017

2019

Associate Administrator

Agricultural Research Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

2012

2014

Acting Director

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture

2011

2012

Director

Office of the Chief Scientist

U.S. Department of Agriculture

2010

2012

Senior Policy Analyst for Agriculture

Office of Science and Technology Policy

Executive Office of the President

2008

2010

National Program Leader

Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service

U.S. Department of Agriculture

2002

2010

Assistant Professor

Paper Science and Engineering

University of Washington

1995

2004

Primary Policy Areas

Agriculture, Environment/Natural Resources, Government Operations/Innovation, Science – Research and Development

Primary Sector of Expertise

Federal

Primary Functions

Academic Faculty, Academic Research, Change Management, Grants Management, Human Capital, Organizational Structure/Design/Development, Performance Measurement