Xochitl Torres Small
Under Secretary for Rural Development
Xochitl Torres Small was confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as the Under Secretary for Rural Development on October 7, 2021. In this role, she oversees loans and grants to provide infrastructure improvements; business development; affordable housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal, and high-poverty areas. During her leadership, USDA Rural Development secured $2 billion to support rural broadband through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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Farah Ahmad
Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development
Farah Ahmad serves as the Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development. She has spent her career advancing policies and programs that promote economic inclusion and opportunity. Prior to this appointment, Ms. Ahmad served as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development.
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Dr. Basil Gooden
Director of State Operations for Rural Development
Dr. Gooden recently served as a Visiting Scholar in the Sustainable Food Access Core of the Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation (iCubed) at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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State Leadership
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.