Jack Smith, the Trump Administration’s pick to serve as State Director of USDA Rural Development in Arizona, reported in for his new position today.
Smith brings seven years of experience serving as County Supervisor for District five in Yavapai County. Smith was elected to serve as the Legislative Policy Liaison and 2nd Vice President of the County Supervisors Association of Arizona and was a member of the NACo Rural and Agriculture Affairs Committee.
During his tenure he worked on increasing transparency and building regional cooperation. Before joining the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors, Smith managed transportation, warehousing and logistics with the Pepsi Bottling Group and the Ace Hardware Corporation.
Smith served eight years in the United States Army and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, two Army Achievement Medals, and the Good Conduct Medal.
Jack and his wife have two children. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies from Grand Canyon University. Smith makes God, church and family his top priorities and is committed to investing the time to make our families and communities successful. As State Director, Smith will use his leadership experience to oversee Rural Development programs in a customer-focused manner to restore prosperity in rural Arizona.
Under the direction of Secretary Sonny Perdue, the USDA will always be facts-based and data-driven, with a decision-making mindset that is customer-focused. Secretary Perdue leads the USDA with four guiding principles: to maximize the ability of American agriculture to create jobs, sell foods and fiber, and feed and clothe the world; to prioritize customer service for the taxpayers; to ensure that our food supply is safe and secure; and to maintain good stewardship of the natural resources that provide us with our miraculous bounty. And understanding that we live in a global economy where trade is of top importance, Secretary Perdue has pledged to be an unapologetic advocate for American agriculture.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; homeownership; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.