Xochitl Torres Small
Under Secretary for Rural Development
Before coming to Rural Development, Xochitl was a United States Representative for the fifth largest district in the country. In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, Xochitl kept a rural hospital from closing its doors, improved constituent access to healthcare over the phone, and helped secure tens of millions of dollars for broadband in New Mexico through USDA’s ReConnect Program.
Meet our Under Secretary
Justin Maxson
Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development
Prior to being named Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development, Justin served six years as Chief Executive Officer at the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. The Foundation works to support moving people and places out of poverty across the South.
Farah Ahmad
Chief of Staff for Rural Development
Farah Ahmad has spent her career advancing policies and programs that promote economic inclusion and opportunity. She currently serves as the Chief of Staff for USDA Rural Development. From 2015 through 2017, Ms. Ahmad served as a Program Manager with the Rural Business-Cooperative Service’s Community and Economic Development program.
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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
At the state level and in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Rural Development leadership consists of one state director. In a few cases, leadership of several adjoining states is provided by a single State Director.