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Leadership

Dr. Basil Gooden

Under Secretary for Rural Development

Dr. Basil I. Gooden was confirmed by the United State Senate to serve as Under Secretary for Rural Development on Monday, February 26, 2024. 
Meet our Under Secretary

Lillian Salerno

Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development

Lillian Salerno currently serves as Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development. Prior to this appointment, Lillian served as the RD State Director in Texas where she oversaw multiple loan and grant programs designed to increase opportunities for rural Texans. Lillian has a background in business and manufacturing and applied her entrepreneurial skills to growing multiple businesses in Texas.
Meet our Deputy Under Secretary

Roger Glendenning

Chief Operating Officer

Roger Glendenning currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Rural Development. As the COO, he is responsible for all administrative support functions for over 4,650 employees in nearly 500 offices across the country.
Meet our Chief Operating Officer

Deidre Deculus Robert

Director of State Office Operations

Deidre Deculus Robert serves as the director of state office operations for Rural Development, based in Washington, D.C. where she works to ensure the successful operation, function, and administration of program guidance for the 47 state and territory USDA Rural Development offices in the country.
Meet our Director of State Operations

State Leadership

Map of the United States

State Director’s play a critical role in helping Rural Development focus on locally driven, community economic development strategies that build on the diverse assets and needs of rural places throughout America. Each state including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is led by an appointed State Director, and in a few cases adjoining states are led by a single State Director.