Fred Cheng
Email: VeteransEmploymentProgram@dm.usda.gov
Tel: 202-260-8375
Department of Agriculture
Mission: We provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.
Fred Cheng is the interim Veterans’ Employment Program Manager for the United States Department of Agriculture and works closely with senior leadership throughout USDA on issues involving the employment, development, and retention of Veterans. Prior to joining the Department, Fred was the Performance and Metrics Officer for the National Media Exploitation Center at the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) for six years. In 2009, he was selected by DIA’s Chief of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Office to serve as the Special Emphasis Program Manager for the Asian American Pacific Islander Program. In this role, he reviewed the agency’s MD-715 and briefed the results to the DIA leadership and the Commissioner of the EEOC. Before joining the Federal workforce, Fred served on active duty in the United States Navy for nine years where his assignments included two overseas tours at Atsugi, Japan as the Air Intelligence Officer for VF-154 onboard the forward deployed carrier, USS Independence, and Seoul, Korea, with Defense Intelligence Agency. Fred continued his service as a naval reservist and was recalled to active duty to the Joint Analysis Center Molesworth, UK as Request for Information Manager and the European Command J2 Exercise Officer. Other reserve assignments included, Commander Naval Forces Europe, Commander Naval Forces Central Command, and Naval Inspector General. He is currently assigned to the Naval Reserve, Commander Naval Forces Korea as the Director of N2 and N6. Fred’s military awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal; Joint Commendation Service Medal, Joint Achievement Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; and the Navy Achievement Medal. Fred received his commission from the University of Washington Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program with a Bachelor of Art Degree in Political Science. In 2007, he graduated from the U.S. Navy Command & Staff College and in 2008 he earned a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. Mr. Cheng has been accepted into the program of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. He is expected to finish his Master Degree in Public Administration this year. He is a 2009 graduate of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute’s Equal Opportunity Special Emphasis Program Manager Course; and received the 2012 Federal Asian Pacific American Council Civilian Meritorious Service for Diversity Excellence.
Recruiting for
Important Information
Thank you for your interest in the Department of Agriculture. We ask that you apply to all USDA positions at http://usda.usajobs.gov.
The veterans hiring initiative was established to assist veterans seeking employment for the first time with the federal government. If you are a current federal government employee lateral government opportunities are not conducted through our veteran employment program office. You must go through the competitive process by applying to positions advertised on USAJOBS. Any veteran’s preference you may have will be afforded to you if all supporting documents are included in your application.
Please be aware that the USDA Veterans Employment Program Office is not a hiring office and therefore, unable to accept unsolicited resumes or conduct interviews for jobs. We will, however, answer any veteran employment-related questions; explain career opportunities within USDA; provide you tools and assist you with your federal resume; and, explain the federal application process. When soliciting for non-competitive consideration the Department of Agriculture will advertise those positions through the FedsHireVets Facebook page.
Prior to applying to any position we recommend that you first determine what federal positions you would qualify for based on your military experience or education. We recommend you first go to the Military Skills Translator Tool located at www.mil2fedjobs.com. This tool will allow you to cross reference Federal positions related to your military occupational specialty. In addition to identifying those positions that are related to your military occupation, it will provide you with links to current open vacancies in that field that you can apply to. You can then narrow your search to specific locations or other criteria within USAJOBS.
Another recommended resource is the Federal Jobs by College Major link at http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter/Index/Interactive/JobsByCollegeMajor#icc to help you determine which Federal Positions you may qualify for based on your education.
Once you find the positions you are interested in and qualify for, it is important to note that you will need to ensure that you revise your resume each time you apply by identifying the key words in the duty description and addressing them in your resume based on your knowledge, skills, and abilities as it relates to the job.
Below is a list of USDA’s major agencies and the jobs titles most recruited for:
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
1980 Agricultural Commodity Grader
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
0404 Biological Science Technician
Animal/Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
0201 Human Resources
0301 Miscellaneous Administration & Programs
0343 Management & Program Analyst
0401 General Biological Scientist
0404 Biological Science Technician
0701 Veterinary Medical Officer
Farm Service Agency (FSA)
0201 Human Resources
1101 General Business & Industry (Program Technician)
1165 Loan Specialist Food & Nutrition Service (FNS)
0301 Miscellaneous Administration & Programs Specialist
0343 Management Analyst & Program Analyst
0630 Nutritionist
Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS)
1862 Consumer Safety Inspector
1863 Food Inspection
0701 Veterinary Medical Officer
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS)
0301 Agricultural Advisor Forest Service (FS)
0201 Human Resources
0301 Forest Fire Management Officer
0303 Administrative Support Assistant
0343 Management Analyst & Program Analyst
0401 Fire and Aviation Management Staff Officer
0401 Natural Resources Specialist
0404 Biological Science Technician
0454 Rangeland Management Specialist
0462 Forestry Technician - Wildlands Firefighters
0462 Forestry Technician - Timber Sale Preparation
0470 Soil Science Specialist
0610 Nurse
1102 Contract Specialist
1801 Law Enforcement Officer
1811 Criminal Investigator
2210 Computer Information Technology
Forest Service (FS)
0301 Miscellaneous Administration & Programs
0340 Program Management
0401 General Natural Resources Management & Biological Sciences
0460 Forestry
0462 Forestry Technician
0486 Wildlife biology
0470 Soil Science
0810 Civil Engineering
1101 Contract Specialist
2210 IT Specialist
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
0301 Program Specialist
0343 Management Analyst & Program Analyst
0457 Soil Conservation Specialist
0458 Soil Conservation Technician
Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
2210 Computer Information Technology