Alfred V. Almanza

Alfred V. Almanza was appointed as Administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) on May 6, 2010. In this position, he leads FSIS and its more than 9,500 employees in their mission of protecting public health through food safety and food defense. He has established and maintained a high standard of excellence in a variety of positions for more than 30 years with FSIS.

Due to this proven record of leadership, in July 2007 Mr. Almanza was named Administrator of FSIS in a limited term appointment. During his tenure he made several critical changes to agency policy to better ensure mission success and effective use of agency resources. For example, he promoted and implemented a national management control system that strengthened the agency's ability to monitor, detect and respond to threats to public health, dramatically improving management oversight of FSIS inspection and enforcement activity.

Mr. Almanza has also worked diligently to foster productive relationships with the National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals and other public health partners. He has advocated and led agency efforts to improve communication and collaboration with all food safety stakeholders, from more effective coordination with domestic and international food safety regulators to targeted consumer and industry outreach.

Mr. Almanza's FSIS career began in 1978 as a food inspector in a small slaughter plant in Dalhart, Texas. Since that time he has served throughout the agency, including as Deputy District Manager, Labor Management Relations Specialist and processing inspector.

Prior to accepting the Administrator position, Mr. Almanza was the District Manager for the Dallas District where he provided leadership and direction to more than 600 employees located in more than 350 federally inspected establishments.