That work led to a transfer in 1993 to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), where I joined the Veterinary Services Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) in Fort Collins, Colorado. I’ve lived happily in Fort Collins ever since. 

 

At CEAH, I evaluated animal health risks related to imports of livestock and poultry, and products derived from them. I helped create and later led and supervised the Risk Analysis Team, and became a certified trainer who conducted many international risk analysis training workshops.

 

After September 11, 2001, the agency shifted focus from international trade to domestic animal health surveillance, and I began evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of those systems.

 

In the final years of my career before retiring from USDA in 2023, I led the Veterinary Services Indemnity Program, which helps farmers and ranchers recover losses from livestock and poultry disease events. The indemnity payments helped these farmers preserve their businesses

 

Over my 32-year USDA career, I led teams, launched program innovations, one of the largest bureaucracies in the U.S. Government, and protected inherently nonpartisan processes from the significant political pressures that were often coming down from higher levels. I can bring that same leadership to the office of the Larimer County Clerk & Recorder.