WASHINGTON, Sept. 16, 2005-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced today that, in addition to the extensive resources USDA has committed to the hurricane Katrina response and recovery efforts, he has appointed two senior advisors to assist in coordinating these efforts in the affected region. Gilbert Gonzalez, senior advisor to the Secretary, and Farm Service Agency Administrator James Little will serve in this new leadership capacity.

"Gil Gonzalez and Jim Little will bring their in-depth knowledge and experience in community development and agriculture to the important role of coordinating USDA Hurricane response and recovery efforts in the region," said Johanns. "I have great confidence in this senior team to work with all of our federal, state and local partners. USDA is delivering all the assistance possible to help displaced residents along the Gulf coast."

Gonzalez will serve as the USDA's primary liaison at the Joint Field Office (JFO), in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The JFO is the multi-agency coordination center established to respond to Hurricane Katrina. Working under the direction of Vice Admiral Theodore Allen, Gonzalez coordinates federal assistance activities, particularly as they relate to the agriculture sector. Little joins Gonzalez in this effort to provide effective and efficient coordination of federal, state and local response to the relief effort.

Gonzalez most recently served at USDA as deputy under secretary for policy and planning for Rural Development from 2001 until 2005 and as acting under secretary from December 2003 to July 2005. In this position Gonzalez oversaw Rural Development policies and programs. Previously, Gonzalez was active in banking, housing and economic developments efforts in the state of Texas for more than 20 years. He served as president of the Community Development Loan Fund, Inc., a for-profit multi-bank community development corporation.

Gonzalez received his bachelor degree in business administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He and has wife Andrea reside in Springfield, Va.

With nearly 35 years of federal service Little has extensive experience with disaster relief efforts. In 2004, he chaired USDA's coordination efforts for that intense hurricane season. Prior to his current role as Administrator of the Farm Service Agency since 2001, he began his career with USDA at the local level, with the former Rural Electrification Administration. He also served as the associate chief financial officer for financial operations, providing oversight for USDA's financial management.

Little is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia. He and his wife, Bonnie, live in Woodbridge, Virginia, and have one daughter.