Statement by Ricardo Salvador, Union of Concerned Scientists Published May 14, 2021 The Senate yesterday confirmed Dr. Jewel Bronaugh as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Bronaugh’s previous experience as state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Virginia and commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with her background in agricultural research, make her a strong choice, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). Bronaugh is the first Black person and first woman of color to serve as USDA deputy secretary. Below is a statement by Ricardo Salvador, a senior scientist and director of the UCS Food & Environment Program.