Roberto Salazar,
Presidentially appointed
Administrator of USDA's
Food and Nutrition
Service (FNS) since
April 2002, will tell
you, "Change happens in
an instant - when you
decide to change." These
words have guided a
stellar career in public
service that began in
New Mexico, and now
touches the lives of
people across the
country.
Salazar leads our nation's efforts to change the lives
of children and
low-income people by
providing them with
access to food, a
healthy diet, and
nutrition education.
While successfully
expanding the reach of
USDA's hallmark programs
- Food Stamps, National
School Lunch and School
Breakfast, Child and
Adult Care Food, and the
Special Supplemental
Program for Women,
Infants and Children
(WIC) - FNS has achieved
the lowest error rate in
its history, preserving
the integrity of a $59
billion annual budget.
Salazar's extensive background and experience in his
home State of New Mexico
make him uniquely
qualified to lead change
designed to improve the
nutritional well-being,
economic climate and
living conditions for
the people he serves.
His years of service
include positions as New
Mexico's Director of the
USDA Rural Development
State Office, Director
of Science and
Technology, Director of
the Human Services
Department, and advisor
to the Governor.
In addition to his work in State government, Salazar
also served with the
U.S. Department of
Commerce Minority
Business Development
Agency, and as Executive
Director of the Hispanic
Radio Network where he
supervised the
development, production,
and syndication of
educational radio
programs to over 160
stations in 18
countries.
"Change happens in an instant - when you decide to
change." Throughout his
life and his career,
Roberto Salazar has
decided to change lives.
The low-income families,
children and adults that
benefit from his
decision, and the staff
of 1,600 at the USDA
Food and Nutrition
Service who support that
vision, are changed for
the better because of
USDA's commitment to
being "the Peoples'
Department".
Last modified:
07/18/2007
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