Dr. Ralph Otto named CSREES Associate Administrator
Colien Hefferan is pleased to announce that Dr. Ralph A. Otto has been selected for the position of CSREES Associate Administrator. Since March 2002, Dr. Otto has been the CSREES Deputy Administrator for Plant and Animal Systems (PAS). From 1995-2002, Dr. Otto was the CSREES Deputy Administrator for Natural Resources and Environment. He served as the Assistant Deputy Administrator for Natural Resources and Rural Development with the Extension Service from 1990 until it became part of CSREES in 1994.
From 1980 through 1989, Dr. Otto worked with USDA’s Office of International Cooperation and Development, serving as Program Leader for Asia and the Middle East in the Technical Assistance Division, and then as the Director of the International Training Division. During this period, Dr. Otto traveled to more than a dozen countries on short-term assignments. His original interest in international development stems from working as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malaysia in the early 1970s.
Dr. Otto is a native of New Jersey, and a current resident of northern Virginia. He is proud to have three degrees from land-grant universities: a B.S. degree from Rutgers, an M.S. from Virginia Tech, and a Ph.D. from Rutgers University, the latter two degrees with emphasis on the quantitative aspects of wildlife biology.
Dr. Otto will assume the duties of Associate Administrator on February 4, 2007.
