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.
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.
Meet our Chief of Staff
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.
Meet our Director of State Operations
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.