California farmer Aubrey Bettencourt has been appointed as the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Bettencourt previously served as the President and CEO of the Almond Alliance and was the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interior during President Donald Trump’s first administration.
The big picture: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Bettencourt’s appointment on Monday.
- Bettencourt was one of two dozen people appointed on Monday to implement Trump’s America First agenda at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Go deeper: Along with her roles with the Almond Alliance and the USDA, Bettencourt comes to the NRCS after working as the Global Director of Government Relations and External Affairs for Netafilm, which is an Orbia company.
- The NRCS provides technical assistance to farmers with a focus on soil health and science.
- She holds a degree in History from Westmond College.
What they’re saying: “Agriculture is the backbone of America, and strong leadership at the People’s Department is key to America’s continued success. I’m proud to welcome this team of experienced, dedicated professionals to USDA,” Rollins said. “Together, we’ll work to promote rural prosperity and ensure those who feed and fuel the world can do so without regulatory burdens standing in the way.”
