Deputy Assistant Administrator

• Aug 2021 - Present

Program Analyst

• Jan 2021 - Aug 2021

Policy Expert at USDA's SNAP working in helping millions of Americans put nutritious food on the table in the largest safety-net hunger program in the U.S. Communicating program policy, drafting legislation, regulations and guidance material, interpreting policy and providing recommendations on statutory and regulatory requirements. Working with senior leadership and decision makers to ensure access to healthy, nutritious foods while helping to pave a pathway to long-term success. Policy Expert at USDA's SNAP working in helping millions of Americans put nutritious food on the table in the largest safety-net hunger program in the U.S. Communicating program policy, drafting legislation, regulations and guidance material, interpreting policy and providing recommendations on statutory and regulatory requirements. Working with senior leadership and decision makers to ensure access to healthy, nutritious foods while helping to pave a pathway to long-term success.

Regulatory Counsel

• Mar 2019 - Jan 2021

Regulatory Counsel for generic drug development and approval policy to protect public health by assisting in the advancement of innovation to make safe, effective and more affordable medications available to the U.S. Assisted in review and policy development for important new and emerging technologies in medicine to promote advances in regulatory science for the generic drug market. Worked closely with technical experts to help advance science to modern standards with efficient and quality standards.

Health Care Advocate

• Jan 2017 - Jan 2019

Supporting patients and family members navigate the health care system, including working with clinicians and other medical providers, understanding ones condition and treatment options, and assisting with customized personalized home care management . Met one-on-one with patients, helping them understand procedures, connect with doctors and specialists, look at options for treatment, understand financial responsibilities and more. With extreme attention to detail, and compassion and sensitivity towards the personal stresses when working through an illness, I advocated for individuals and their families with their medical providers and the health care system and worked to customize a personalized plan that is patient and family-friendly, flexible, and respectful to handle a patient's and family's constantly changing personal needs.Educated patients and families on how to take control of their health and empower through self-responsibility by teaching the concept of wellness through various health promotion and health programming methods. This included counseling and educating towards nutritional concerns, fitness, therapies, as well as social and emotional well-being.

Global One Health Intern -

• Sep 2015 - Feb 2016

Public Health Intern – One Health Coordination CenterJohns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health Practicum;United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Veterinary Services, Surveillance, Preparedness and Response, One Health Washington D.C. •Developed USDA public health field experience to learn about investigation and response of zoonotic diseases and the One Health initiative. •Facilitated inter-agency communication between APHIS and HHS,CDC for investigation and response to zoonotic disease events from both animal and human health perspective. •Identified communication gaps between public health stakeholders regarding the One Health initiative and disease monitoring program. •Developed proposed template agreement to allow information sharing between stakeholders. •Draft consultative guidelines for Information Sharing on Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks to be used by APHIS for inter-agency One Health Agreements.

Attorney Advisor - Office of the General Counsel - Marketing, Regulatory and Food Safety Division

• Jun 2000 - Oct 2014

Areas of expertise: Federal Agency Regulatory Consulting; Federal Administrative Rule Making; Contract and Agreement Negotiation with Domestic and Foreign Trading Partners; Food Terrorism Analysis Advisory Counsel; Tribal and Diplomatic Consultation and Negotiations; Food Safety and Marketing; Animal and Plant Health, Quarantine, and Commerce; Federal Veterinary Regulation; Animal Care and Welfare; Environmental Consulting; Wildlife Damage Management; CODEX International Food Standards; Import-Export, Customs and International Trade Matters. -Regulatory litigation and advisory counsel to various agencies within USDA, including Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Agency (GIPSA).-Lead agency advocate and representative for USDA technical officers for the preparation, drafting and negotiation of domestic and international agreements, contracts, cooperative agreements, and memorandum of understanding with U.S. State and Foreign State partners, including multiple negotiations in both bilateral and multilateral agreements. -Lead legal expert for USDA, FSIS with drafting and negotiations of international policy recommendations for the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations in 2005.-Work directly with Department of Justice for defense and prosecutorial litigation.-Assist with agency rulemaking for development of new proposed and final regulations.-Provide legal guidance and counsel to agency clients in the development and creation of new program areas.-Consult and provide legal guidance during animal disease outbreaks and indemnity issues-Coordinated USDA issues and efforts with multitude of outside agencies: Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol and Federal Emergency Management Agency; Environmental Protection Agency; US Department of State; US Trade Representative; US Fish and Wildlife Services.

Legal Instructor

• Aug 2005 - Jun 2007

Instructor in both "Introduction to Paralegal Studies" and "Family Law" classes. Drafted lesson plans, exams and work studies, and lectured to teach paralegal studies to post graduate adults. Instructor in both "Introduction to Paralegal Studies" and "Family Law" classes. Drafted lesson plans, exams and work studies, and lectured to teach paralegal studies to post graduate adults.

International Trade Attorney

• 1999 - 2000

•Practice International Trade Law regarding, inter alia, antidumping duty and countervailing duty case filings, NAFTA arbitration and panel investigations, NAFTA investor-state disputes, WTO interpretation. •Pro bono project: civil rights litigation regarding desegregation of public schools within the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. •Practice International Trade Law regarding, inter alia, antidumping duty and countervailing duty case filings, NAFTA arbitration and panel investigations, NAFTA investor-state disputes, WTO interpretation. •Pro bono project: civil rights litigation regarding desegregation of public schools within the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

Federal Judicial Law Clerk

• 1998 - 1999

Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Chief Judge Claude M. Hilton. •Drafted legal opinions for publication in both District and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals hearings in federal civil cases. •Researched and interpreted complex federal case law, statutory language and legislative history. •Wrote bench memoranda and drafted opinions on weekly dispositive motions for the “Rocket Docket”. •Drafted legal opinion on U.S. census case that was upheld in the U.S. Supreme Court. •Obtained FBI top-secret security clearance for high profile espionage trial.

Summer Law Associate

• Jun 1997 - Aug 1997

•Researched and wrote memoranda and legal briefs embodying wide range of legal areas, including, Antitrust, Telecommunications, Title VII Employment, and Public Health Care Billing Fraud. •Pro Bono project: drafted and executed Wills and Health Care Power of Attorney with Council for the Elderly. •Researched and wrote memoranda and legal briefs embodying wide range of legal areas, including, Antitrust, Telecommunications, Title VII Employment, and Public Health Care Billing Fraud. •Pro Bono project: drafted and executed Wills and Health Care Power of Attorney with Council for the Elderly.

Law Clerk - Board of Contract Appeals

• Aug 1996 - Dec 1996

Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Judge Robert Parker. •Performed research, drafted legal memoranda and prepared draft opinions addressing administrative appeals on United States government contracts in the Appellate Board for government contracts. Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Judge Robert Parker. •Performed research, drafted legal memoranda and prepared draft opinions addressing administrative appeals on United States government contracts in the Appellate Board for government contracts.

Legal Assistant

• Jan 1996 - Aug 1996

Assisted with Family Law litigation, including domestic violence, adoption law, custody disputes and child endangerment cases. Assisted with Family Law litigation, including domestic violence, adoption law, custody disputes and child endangerment cases.

Director - Lawrence Board of Health, Tobacco Control Program

• Dec 1993 - Aug 1995

Director: 8/94 - 8/95•Directed and managed all aspects of the Lawrence Tobacco Control Program (TCP), a public health program under the Commissioner of Public Health in Lawrence, MA. •Chairperson of the Lawrence Tobacco Coalition consisting of public and private local stakeholders. •Responsible for staff hiring, supervision, and volunteer management. •Responsible for administrative and human resources management and supervised all program budgeting, finances and State reporting requirements. •Managed program planning, evaluation and budget development of tobacco control projects in the city. •Advocated to local and state legislators for budgetary support of the Massachusetts TCP. •Testified at public hearings regarding the passage of public health ordinances concerning tobacco control laws. •Advocated tobacco control mission at State Senate with local Congressmen and staff. •Provided outreach and education in urban low-income schools, public forums, and private institutions regarding tobacco-health related issues. •Developed, implemented and enforced city-wide legal polices concerning youth tobacco usage and sales; smoking prohibition in buildings, restaurants and areas near childcare. •Developed and constructed tobacco health educational materials for broad dissemination. •Advocated tobacco health related concerns with pregnancy and smoking; and second hand smoke upon the fetus. •Active in city- and State-wide coalition and grass-roots support building. Assistant Director: 12/93 - 7/94•Developed the Lawrence Tobacco Control Program (LTCP) from RFP contract with Director, including drafting and introducing new board of health legislation for public health concerns.