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APHIS Leadership
Beverly Simmons is the Deputy Administrator for APHIS' International Services (IS)
Beverly Simmons is the Deputy Administrator for International Services (IS), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). In leading a 300-person staff domestically and overseas, she directs cooperative efforts with foreign governments to prevent the introduction of high-risk pests and diseases into the United States. She is also responsible for protecting and expanding overseas markets for U.S. agricultural goods, supporting rural incomes and jobs. Simmons broadens APHIS’ safeguarding system by leading work in developing regions to improve their capacity to detect -- and respond -- to emerging pests and disease threats.
Previously in APHIS, Simmons served as the Associate Deputy Administrator for Emerging and International Programs of Biotechnology Regulatory Services. In that role, she was responsible for developing new programs and initiatives to meet the evolving nature of APHIS’ biotechnology regulatory framework, and for advancing its international objectives.
Before joining APHIS, she was the Assistant Deputy Administrator of the Office of Scientific and Technical Affairs of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. In that role, Simmons led the Agency’s efforts to develop strategic and tactical approaches to address technical, sanitary and phytosanitary barriers to agricultural trade. As director of the biotechnology group, she coordinated program and policy development for agricultural biotechnology trade-related issues. Other positions within FAS include Assistant Deputy Administrator for International Trade Policy and Assistant to the Deputy Administrator for Commodity and Marketing Programs. Simmons has also served as Agricultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in London. Simmons earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in business/marketing and agricultural and resource economics from the University of Maryland at College Park.
