Obama Names Two Transition Team Leaders for USDA

President-Elect Barack Obama has named two leaders of the transition team for USDA: Bart Chilton, who now serves as a commissioner on the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Carole Jett, who worked on agriculture issues for the Obama campaign in Indiana.  

Chilton previously served as chief of staff and vice president for government relations at the National Farmers Union, and was a Bush political appointee to the Farm Credit Administration, where he served as an executive assistant to the board. Before that, he was a senior adviser to former Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).

Before Jett joined the campaign, she worked in the federal government for 33 years, most recently as the Farm Bill coordinator for USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, working mostly on conservation issues.

Additional members of the team are expected soon. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer told reporters on Thursday the review team might begin work as early as today. The USDA team will work under David Hayes, former Deputy Interior Secretary, who oversees energy and natural resources matters.

Source: NAMP