Secretary Rollins Announces USDA State and FNS Officials
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced new presidential appointments to key leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), including positions within the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), and Rural Development (RD).
“President Trump is putting Farmers First, and so is the incredible team we are building at the Department of Agriculture. Our latest additions to the USDA family are personally invested in ensuring farmers and rural America prosper," said Secretary Rollins.
"I look forward to seeing the work they will do supporting farmers, ranchers, and producers across the country by implementing President Trump’s America First policies.”
The Food and Nutrition Service is committed to increasing access to nutritious food sourced from American farms.
FSA State Directors are responsible for executing USDA policies and advancing the President’s agenda through state-level program administration. RD State Directors focus on empowering rural communities and driving economic growth.
Patrick A. Penn has been appointed Deputy Under Secretary for the Food and Nutrition Service. Raised in foster care, Penn served in the Kansas Legislature from 2021 to 2025, where he led efforts to reform foster care, social welfare, and regulatory systems. He is also a decorated Army Signal Officer with combat experience.
Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh will serve as the State Director for Rural Development in Alabama. Cavanaugh previously held the role of President of the Alabama Public Service Commission, first elected statewide in 2010. In 2020, Cavanaugh earned the highest vote count in Alabama history for a non-presidential candidate.
Arthur Keyes has been named State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Alaska. With over 20 years in agriculture, Keyes previously served as Director of the Alaska Division of Agriculture from 2016 to 2019.
Keyes is known for launching an award-winning marketing campaign for Alaska Grown products and founding the state’s top-performing farmers market in 2006.
All the details can be found at, https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/05/27/secretary-rollins-announces-new-slate-presidential-appointments-usda-food-and-nutrition-service-farm