WASHINGTON, June 27, 2013 - President Obama announced his intent to nominate Krysta Harden as Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, Robert Bonnie was nominated as Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment.
Harden has served as the Chief of Staff at USDA since 2011, where she earned high-regard from a wide range of individuals for her no-nonsense approach to problem-solving. Prior to this, Harden served as Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations at USDA from 2009 to 2011. From 2004 to 2009, she served as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Conservation Districts. Previously, Harden was the Senior Vice President of Gordley Associates from 1993 to 2004.
The Georgia native also worked for the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, serving as Staff Director for the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Peanuts and Tobacco from 1992 to 1993. From 1981 to 1992, she held a number of roles including Legislative Director, Chief of Staff, and Press Secretary for Congressman Charles Hatcher. Ms. Harden received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Georgia.
USDA Under Secretary Michael Scuse has served as acting Deputy Secretary since the departure of Kathleen Merrigan, who announced in March that she would be leaving the agency.
Robert Bonnie, the nominee for Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, is a Senior Policy Advisor at the United States Department of Agriculture, a position he has held since 2009. Prior to this, he worked for the Environmental Defense Fund where he held a number of roles from 1995 to 2008, including Vice-President of Land Conservation and Wildlife and Managing Director of the Center for Conservation Incentives.
Bonnie served on the Board of Visitors at the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Piedmont Environmental Council and Scenic America. Mr. Bonnie received a A.B. from Harvard College and an M.F. and M.E.M. from the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment.
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