WASHINGTON – The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) named Sandra Eskin as deputy undersecretary for food safety. Eskin previously worked as project director for food safety at the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Before Pew, Eskin worked as a public policy consultant to consumer and public interest organizations, providing strategic and policy advice on a range of consumer protection issues, including food safety, dietary supplement safety, and food and drug labeling and advertising.

She also worked as federal government staff attorney and legislative representative for the Consumer Federation of America and served as deputy director of the Produce Safety Project, a Pew initiative at Georgetown University. She has served on numerous federal advisory committees and received her bachelor’s degree from Brown University and her Juris Doctor from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.

“Sandra’s deep experience in food safety will strengthen USDA’s dedication to ensuring a safe, secure food supply for consumers and help to protect the safety of federal meat inspectors and workers throughout the food chain,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The USDA also appointed Eyang Garrison as chief of staff in the office of the deputy secretary. Prior to joining USDA, Garrison served as the deputy chief of staff and legislative director to Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio.

Additionally, Jeremy Adamson was named policy advisor for trade and foreign agriculture affair in the Foreign Agricultural Service. Previously, Adamson worked a portfolio manager at Certis USA. He also held roles in account management and market development with Corteva Agrisciences and worked as a crop consultant and plant health and nutrition specialist with Nutrien.

Finally, Edyael Casaperalta was named senior policy advisor for the Rural Utilities Service Agency. Casaperalta is an attorney who has supported indigenous and underrepresented communities in gaining access to telecommunications technology.