Dr. Justin Ransom was announced by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins as a presidential appointment on July 3, 2025, to serve as administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). He assumed leadership of the agency on July 14, 2025. As administrator, Dr. Ransom oversees FSIS’ mission to ensure the safety, wholesomeness and proper labeling of America’s commercial supply of meat, poultry and processed egg products. He leads the agency’s modernization efforts, streamlining inspection systems, strengthening public health protections and advancing science-based policies. Dr. Ransom brings more than 20 years of executive leadership in food safety, quality systems, animal welfare and sustainability. Immediately prior to his appointment, he served as senior director of sustainable food strategy at Tyson Foods, where he spearheaded enterprise-wide sustainability programs. His diverse industry experience also includes roles at McDonald’s and OSI Group, where he managed and advanced complex food supply chains across global markets. With roots in production agriculture, Dr. Ransom has worked as a scientist, livestock breeder and global supply chain leader, deepening his first-hand knowledge of end-to-end food system management. His career reflects a strong commitment to enterprise collaboration and the seamless integration of food safety practices from farm to fork. He is driven by a genuine passion for protecting the safety and security of American agriculture — from the farmers who produce our food to the consumers who depend on it. He draws on his leadership development experiences to cultivate future leaders and foster strong, high-performing teams grounded in trust, accountability and shared purpose. He began his public service career at USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, contributing to the development of technical standards for the National School Lunch Program, instrument grading systems and international trade facilitation. Dr. Ransom holds a Bachelor of Science in agricultural communications from Texas Tech University and earned both his Master of Science and doctorate in animal science from Michigan State University and Colorado State University, respectively.