Patricia Klintberg is the director of the Office of External Affairs for the Farm Service Agency (FSA). She is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of FSA's Executive Secretariat, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Public Affairs, Communications, and Legislative Liaison offices, as well as supervising FSA's production of Web site content and other informational materials. She also assists the administrator in communicating the importance and benefits of FSA programs and services to producers and landowners across the country.

In July 2001, Klintberg first began working for USDA for former Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman as internal communications coordinator. Later, she advanced and served five years as director of Constituent Affairs for former Secretaries of Agriculture Veneman and Mike Johanns and current Acting Secretary Chuck Conner. In this capacity, Klintberg was instrumental in organizing outreach efforts concerning "mad cow disease" (BSE); National Animal I.D. system; Conservation Security Program; crop disaster programs; the President's Climate Vision Program and the annual budget briefing.

Klintberg had a long-standing career in journalism specializing in writing about farm, conservation and other USDA programs. From 1996 to 2001, she was the Washington editor of the Farm Journal magazine, in which she wrote about trends and policy changes that affect farmers and ranchers. Klintberg was also the Washington editor for the Farm Journal magazine's livestock publications, including Dairy Today, Beef Today and Hogs Today. Additionally, she served nine years as Washington editor for Doane's Agricultural Report covering agricultural and trade policy in Washington, D.C.

Klintberg is the recipient of numerous awards. She is past president and a member of the National Press Club; the North American Agricultural Journalists; and the American Agricultural Editors Association. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and a minor in English from the University of Nebraska. Born the daughter of a career U.S. Army officer in Germany, Klintberg has two adult sons and resides in Arlington, Va., with her husband.