Washington, DC – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the selection of Erica Navarro to serve as Director of the Office of Budget and Program Analysis (OBPA) for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). OBPA administers the Department's budgetary functions and also develops and presents budget-related matters. The Director is responsible for providing leadership in carrying out Department-wide responsibilities in policy analysis, program review, budget, legislative, and regulatory functions.

Secretary Perdue issued the following statement:

"A top priority at USDA is to be the most effective, most efficient, and best-managed department in the entire federal government, and highly qualified officials like Erica will help us achieve that goal. Erica has a sterling track record and excellent credentials, and I am confident she will focus that talent serving America's farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agricultural producers."

Background

Erica Navarro previously served as the Budget Director for the U.S. Department of Education. Before that, she served as Budget Director for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator and Senior Advisor for the Africa Bureau at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). She began her career serving in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Tulane University before earning her Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in finance from the Yale School of Management.