Tom Vilsack Secretary of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced several key staff appointments and promotions in Washington, D.C.
Carlton Bridgeforth has been promoted to White House Liaison in the Office of the Secretary. Bridgeforth previously served as Senior Advisor for USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area, where he led stakeholder outreach and Congressional engagement. Before his tenure at USDA, Bridgeforth worked for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, advising Chairman David Scott and other committee members on issues related to farm commodities and risk management. Additionally, he has served as an appointee to the United Sorghum Checkoff Program and an Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade. Bridgeforth holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Morehouse College.
Hunter Henderson has been promoted to Chief of Staff of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Henderson most recently served as Deputy White House Liaison, coordinating hiring efforts and interagency collaboration for USDA under the Biden-Harris Administration. Prior to that role, he was Special Assistant for FSA, advising senior staff on field operations and personnel policy. Before joining USDA, Henderson held positions with the Arizona Democratic Party and the Biden-Harris Presidential Campaign. He is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a member of the Akimel O’odham people.
Alyssa Charney has been promoted to Senior Advisor for Farm Production and Conservation. Charney returned to USDA in May after serving as White House Director for Lands and Climate-Smart Agriculture since April 2023. Previously, she was Chief of Staff in USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), leading climate-smart agriculture investments through the Inflation Reduction Act. Her earlier career includes work with U.S. Senator Bob Casey and leadership roles at the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. Charney holds advanced degrees from Tufts University and Vassar College.
Victoria Maloch has been promoted to Chief of Staff for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Maloch previously served as Special Advisor for Strategic Communications in USDA’s Office of Communications. Her background includes roles as Communications Director for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and a Truman-Albright Fellow at the Department of Health and Human Services' Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. She holds master’s degrees from both Cambridge University and Oxford University, along with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arkansas.
