Fallston man receives presidential appointment to USDA

Maria Morales, The Aegis, Bel Air, Md.
·2 min read

Jan. 25—C. John Sullivan III has been appointed as Maryland state executive director of the Farm Service Agency in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Sullivan was one of seven people nationally whom President Biden appointed on Jan. 20 to serve in key regional leadership roles at the USDA.

"These regional appointees will be critical to the president's efforts to rebuild communities most impacted by the pandemic, economic recovery and climate change," read a statement released by the White House. "They bring deep expertise in their issue areas as well as critical relationships with federal, state, tribal and local leaders."

According to the White House, the Farm Service Agency implements agricultural policy, administers credit and loan programs; and manages conservation, commodity, disaster, and farm marketing programs in each state. Its mission is to equitably serve all farmers, ranchers and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient agricultural programs for all Americans.

Sullivan previously served as a program manager for the Maryland Department of the Environment, where he had oversight of the Animal Feeding Operations, Biosolids, Waste Diversion and Hazardous Waste Permits divisions. He also represented the department on the Maryland State Soil Conservation Committee.

Prior to this role, Sullivan served as deputy chief of staff and agricultural liaison to Harford County Executive David Craig. According to the White House statement, Sullivan developed the first comprehensive agricultural economic development plan for Harford County, received the National Association of Counties Achievement Award for the Ag 2000 initiative and Buy Local Campaign, developed marketing programs to enhance economics of the agricultural industry, and conducted legislative service related to agriculture.

In the 1990s, Sullivan served as an agriculture and natural resource fellow for the Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program in Annapolis and the National Civilian Community Corps in Washington, D.C.

Sullivan is a past president and current board member of the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation and the Maryland Agricultural Council. He is also an active member of the Maryland Farm Bureau, an alumnus of LEAD Maryland and Leadership Maryland, and a lifetime member of the Maryland Historical Society and the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum.

Sullivan lives on his family's fifth-generation homestead in Fallston with his wife and three children who are active in the beef and equine industry, 4-H Livestock, FFA and agricultural high-school magnet programs.