News

Philbrook named to head FFAS

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has named Burnham John “Bud” Philbrook as USDA's Deputy UnderSecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS). FFAS includes the Farm Service Agency (FSA), Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA).

Philbrook and his wife Michele Gran co-founded Global Volunteers in 1984, a St. Paul-basednon-profit that sends up to 2500 volunteers each year to 100 communities in 20 countries. Volunteers work with local citizens on agricultural, educational, health care and other challenges facing developing communities.

Prior to that, he served in the Minnesota House ofRepresentatives and was Assistant Commissioner for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. He has also held numerous positions in the public, private and volunteer sectors.

Philbrook received his bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota, hismaster's degree from the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and earned a law degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota.