GIPSA Biographies

On July 20, 2008, Randall Jones became the new deputy administrator of the Agency’s Federal Grain Inspection Service.

Prior to joining GIPSA, Mr. Jones served as associate deputy administrator of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service's Livestock and Seed Program. During his tenure, he oversaw research and promotion programs for beef, pork, lamb and soybeans; livestock and grain market reporting; domestic and foreign seed trade activities and quality management programs to market seed and meat products domestically and internationally. He also was directly involved in the development and implementation of a new research and promotion program for sorghum. Before his service with the Agricultural Marketing Service, Mr. Jones served more than 16 years in various management positions with the USDA Farm Service Agency and the former Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.

During his 7 years of service with the Agricultural Marketing Service, Randall contributed directly to the effective marketing of meat and seed products, primarily through the implementation of programs that would enhance trade with domestic and foreign markets. Since September 2001, he oversaw the implementation of quality management systems and development of three accreditation programs for seed, providing uniformity of procedures and methodology and thereby enhancing seed commerce across the globe. He was also involved in the recent development of an agreement with Canada that facilitated the direct marketing of U.S. seed upon import, saving U.S. seed producers and exporters thousands of dollars a year in seed testing and exporting costs.

Further, his oversight of OECD Seed Schemes activities has enhanced U.S. seed movement in international seed trade. Before his service with the Agricultural Marketing Service, Randall served more than 16 years in various management positions with the USDA Farm Service Agency and the former Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service.

Randall is a native of Grayson County in southwest Virginia, where he grew up on a beef cattle and dairy farm. He received his Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. He now resides in Warrenton, VA, with his wife and daughter.