Kevin Shea, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), recently received two awards from state and industry partners, according to a press release.
Shea received the Ambassador’s Circle Award from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). The award is given to individuals who advance NASDA’s mission to nurture American agriculture through lawmaking, partnerships and public engagement.
The administrator also received The Medal of Distinction from the U.S. Animal Health Associations (USAHA). This award is for USAHA members with outstanding leadership, exemplary service and relevant contributions to the USAHA.
"Congratulations to Kevin Shea, Administrator of @USDA_APHIS! Administrator Shea was recently presented with lifetime achievement awards from @NASDAnews and @USAnimalHealth," the U.S. Cattlemen's Association wrote in an Oct. 28 Twitter post.
As APHIS administrator, Shea works toward the mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts, protecting the value of American agriculture and the safe rollout of genetically engineered technology.
"It’s an honor to be recognized by both NASDA and USAHA, but I must acknowledge that it’s really the result of the work APHIS employees do every day," Shea said, according to the press release. "We can only be successful in our mission to safeguard American agriculture with the support of our collaborators. NASDA is truly an indispensable partner and this award is a testament to the joint federal-state work taking place every day across the country on behalf of the nation’s farmers and ranchers. Similarly, USAHA is a critical ally in our efforts to protect and improve animal health while also ensuring animal industries remain healthy and profitable."
