By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
Two Texans were sworn into positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) this month.
Brandon Lipps was appointed the deputy undersecretary of Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS), and Pam Miller will serve as administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).
“I am excited to welcome Brandon Lipps and Pam Miller to these new roles within the department and thank them for their hard work up to this point,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said. “Both Brandon and Pam have extensive experience in nutrition policy and have already been serving in FNCS leadership positions. I am confident they will hit the ground running and continue the great work the Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services does to feed those in need.”
Lipps enters the position after serving as the previous administrator of FNS, as well as acting deputy undersecretary of the Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services since July 2017.
The Woodson, Texas, native earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Texas Tech University before receiving a law degree from the Texas Tech University School of Law.
Lipps previously worked at Texas Tech University as the chief of staff and director of federal affairs in the office of Chancellor Robert Duncan. Before that, Lipps worked as Duncan’s consultant, legislative aide and rural district director during Duncan’s time as a Texas State Senator. Lipps also served as counsel and senior professional staff to the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, leading the nutrition policy team.
Miller has previously worked as the USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services senior associate administrator for policy since September 2018.
The Texas Tech graduate earned her degree in agricultural communications after growing up on a small livestock operation near Lubbock.
Miller’s previous work includes 20 years with the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as senior professional staff for the House Agriculture Committee. She joined the House Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee as the lead professional staff for FNS, as well as USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service and Food Safety Inspection Service.