DutiesProvide executive leadership, policy guidance, and directionOversee the SCI Division budget formulation and executionDevelop recommendations designed to provide optimal delivery of administrative management support and servicesOversee the administrative staff that provides policy guidance, direction and a full range of administrative management functionsOversee the development and provision of training in accordance with SCI Division needsOversee the development and implementation of the Division Quality Management SystemPlan, organize, coordinate, and conduct analytical studies to identify and examine program, administrative, and resource management trends and problem areasResponsible for handling and resolving personnel issues which rise to the level of Division involvement SkillsPlanning, organizing, and directing team study work and negotiating effectively with management to accept and implement recommendationsDeveloping new approaches to identifying meaningful workload factors and performance quality levels and determining accurate measurement techniques.Preparing recommendations for legislation to change the way programs are carried out.Evaluating the content of new or modified legislation for projected impact upon the agency's programs or resources.Selecting and applying appropriate program evaluation and measurement techniques in determining the extent of compliance with rules and regulations issued by the agency.

Provides technical expertise, training and coaching to help ensure effective development of ACG capabilities and performance. Advises ACGs on procedures regarding their work products. Serves as a technical expert responsible for providing assistance in inspection and grading services to SCI Division personnel, other Government Agencies, food industry and association representatives. Provides technical insight and suggestions for improvements to the various nationwide inspection services on edible nuts and specialty products and reviews of Division field offices. Coordinates the development of instructional materials and provides interpretation of materials to ensure uniform delivery of USDA inspection services. Provides technical guidance to Division Senior Management in the development and execution of the nationwide inspection and certification service for fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, specialty crops. Participates with Division Senior Management in recommending, developing, implementing, and evaluating new and established procedures. Assures that oral and written communications are bias-free and that differences of other employees and clients are respected and valued. Specialized experience in grading and certification principles, and a broad knowledge of applicable regulations, standards, and marketing order; applying inspection procedures in order to conduct comprehensive reviews of policies and procedures, particularly in fresh and processed fruit and vegetable and edible nut grading programs; production, packaging, transportation, storage, marketing and distribution operations; maintaining awareness of program changes and ability to develop new initiatives within the programs; obtaining data, resolving controversies and providing technical guidance to members of the Division. Serving as Contracting Officer's Representative for special projects and contracts.

Managing and supervising staff involved in enterprise applications support for two agencies: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). I have defined priorities, enhanced communications, established and maintained subject matter expertise, exercised strategic planning and problem solving, and provided regulatory oversight. Created a communications plan for communications between all stakeholders, and a workflow for service and incident requests with established responsibility and accountability. Identified all applications within our scope, set up cross training between personnel for custom applications, including transition plans to incorporate applications into one support umbrella. I fully invested in ITIL practices and implemented use of the Service NOW platform to identify and manage items and services. Led planning for quality assurance testing, release management, problem management, and configuration management. Supervised 13 employees and created an environment that promoted engagement, integration, and collaboration. Regularly met with project team leaders to establish goals, priorities and status updates. Conducted all performance reviews and made sure all items were discussed, explained and concerns, obstacles, and expectations were addressed. I have delivered quality customer service by treating it as high priority and extending it to every person at every level. I have participated with management in recommending, evaluating, and establishing procedures for industry related technical issues and provided guidance to senior level staff on efficient functioning of operations and services. I have maintained cooperative contacts with industry and agency officials, both federal and state. I have been involved in the development of controls and procedures to collect and analyze processing and inspection data and the monitoring an analysis of said data in order to identify and optimize program management.

IT Supervisor. Deputy Director for Field Support Services Division that provides direct IT support for agency employees. I develop documentation and execute protocols for contingency and disaster recovery. I provide guidance to and coordinate with IT specialists to ensure servers are administered appropriately and consistently. I oversee systems administration activities of subordinate IT specialists, providing assignments, guidance and appropriate training. I plan develop and execute methodology for supporting networked and non-networked desktop computers and laptops for Division offices nationwide. I lead in the evaluation of IT equipment, systems, and software and make recommendations for purchases which factor into Division needs and budgetary constraints. I assess the evolving needs of the Division(s) with respect to IT customer support and develop and implement effective methods to meet these needs. I oversee and coordinate help desk activities and functions. I provide guidance to subordinate IT specialists. I develop and communicate customer support policies, procedures, and standards. I coordinate with organizational staff to ensure effective customer support and consistency in policies and procedures. I participate in Division planning regarding IT training for users and develop and provide training for users. I ensure that Division costumer support is timely and responsive to user needs. I evaluate technical capabilities, capacity and relative cost of IT equipment, and make recommendations for the acquisition of new equipment or revised configuration of existing. I evaluate Division requirements regarding capture, conversion and distribution of technical and administrativeinformation and make recommendations for enhancing services and/or reducing costs through use of information systems. I provide input to Division (s)IT plans and implement Division policies that ensure effective and efficient use of resources while optimizing program delivery.

In my current position I have been responsible for leading numerous projects that required me to evaluate and designate responsibilities, create plans, assess risks, manage assets and review processes. I am part of the leadership team that merged IT operations for two major Program Areas. We increased IT staff, expanded our customer base, equipment, servers and application infrastructure to support it. I led a team in identifying all the customer support challenges involved in bringing the IT operations of both Program Areas together while also participating in merger committees tasked with Asset Management, Customer Support, Communications, Human Resources, Policy, and Logistics. I designated scope, work schedules and time lines, roles and responsibilities, analyzed quality risks and implemented solutions. I led in the procurement and development of a centralized contact center for a single toll free number call center interface allowing all help desk staff to be located anywhere in the U.S. I integrated it with a help ticket application database to create a combined service environment that provides a highly responsive support unit for our customers. I led the team in the development of a standardized image used for cloning computers. I also led the team in writing and publishing manuals, and in training staff in standard operating procedure for the help desk environment. I led in writing and publishing a service level agreement that incorporates this entire customer service approach, including components to address performance criteria and accountability. I prepared briefings and proposals for life cycle management, procurement plans for computers, servers and software needs for the Program Areas; implemented deployment while planning for post deployment support. I have helped in development of position descriptions for information technology positions within our organization and have been a member of interview boards and employee performance evaluation boards.

I served as the lead Information Technology (IT) Specialist responsible for oversight and maintenance of the IT systems. I was responsible for servers and networked and non-networked computers nationwide. I provide recommendations, developed plans and coordinated IT projects and initiatives. I served as team leader for subordinate IT specialists and other staff involved with IT related duties and projects. I led activities in the research, development and implementation of IT policy and procedure. I was responsible for maintenance and procurement of IT equipment. I was the senior server administrator for network file servers and antivirus servers nationwide. I was the senior administrator for a IBM Domino Server. I was responsible for maintaining three SQL servers that were part of critical Branch operations. I was directly involved in the installation, setup and configuration and disaster recovery protocols for this environment. I coordinated all aspects of support as provided by other IT staff, including but not limited to, installing and configuring hardware and operating systems while maximizing the benefits of standardized configurations. I maintained appropriate IT security measures, did troubleshooting and corrected software and hardware failures, developed and maintained appropriate documentation, and provided appropriate user training. I led efforts in providing customer support to IT users nationwide. I recommended and implemented systematic approaches to customer service. I initiated and advanced the Branch "help desk" approach to IT customer service. I evaluated the requirements of the Branch regarding capture, conversion, and distribution of technical and administrative information. I made recommendations to management staff as part of my duties.

I have served as liaison for the Defense Contract Inspection Section (DCIS), and have developed working relationships with Department of Defense (DOD) entities such as the Natick Soldier Systems Command, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, the Army Center for Excellence Subsistence, the Army Veterinary Inspection Corps, the Defense Logistics Agency, and all military branch representatives. I have participated in workshops, meetings, and special conferences to ensure uniformity of inspection, provide training, present Branch positions, provide information and resolve problems. I have established and maintained contacts and cooperative working relationships with various stakeholders in the food industry such as distributors, educational institutions, state agencies, federal agencies, buyers, commercial and trade organizations, as well as professional societies. I have been part of the development of procedures for determining country of origin on products inspected. I have served as a representative on the Defense Logistic Agency's Joint Steering Group to review advances in technology for the DOD feeding programs. I served as a member of the Identity Preservation Task Force to respond to industry needs with regards to genetically modified commodities. I have been directly involved and participated in planning, coordinating, and implementing training workshops and have developed curriculum, written lesson plans, and prepared lessons and presentations. I have served as an instructor and conducted classes on a myriad of subjects related to inspection and auditing. I was an integral team member for DCIS and developed, implemented and provided special training to personnel in response to increased inspection demand during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I have progressively handled the information technology support for a majority Branch systems, and as a technical advisor for information technology projects.

I served as an ACG in several different areas and performed and applied methods and techniques required in commodity grading such as: lot sampling and visual verification of containers, determination of sampling frequency and size, condition of container examinations, product and commodity evaluations through visual and organoleptic comparisons, product color evaluations, defect appraisals, character appraisal, net weight examinations, drained weight examinations, container vacuum testing, microscopic examinations and chemical testing, acid contents, ph levels, reagent formulations, recoverable oil and enzyme activity levels. I have served as an Inspector-in-Charge at several plants operating under the USDA Purchase Programs. I have served as the Inspector-in-Charge during reconditioning contracts for the Commodity Procurement Branch. I have served on several temporary duty assignments in different parts of the country and with cross utilization programs in other USDA agencies. I was always leading the way trying to improve the use of computers and equipment in expediting the inspection procedures. I have extensive time and experience working in the Operational Rations (OR) programs. I have worked with both MRE (Meals-Ready-to-Eat), and Tray Pack operations. I have served as an Inspector-in Charge at several Operational Rations plants and inspection points. I analyzed new contracts, specifications and inspection methods and then forwarded recommendations; I collected statistical data for reports; conducted audits of the contractor's quality inspection systems; verified corrective action responses to discrepancies; and periodically analyzed the inspection program activities under my supervision. My duties included all the factors described above as well as: training, planning and coordinating the work of subordinate inspectors.