The Media Communications Coordination Team coordinates public and media communications for the Office of the Secretary, USDA general offices and mission areas, and develops policies and plans for effective execution of overall basic and operating policy for development and dissemination of public affairs information.
Coordinates development, production, and dissemination of Department-wide communications;
Develops national and significant Departmental news releases, statements for the media, letters-to-the editor, opinion-editorials and other information materials released through a variety of media;
Counsels and advises senior decision makers and agency information directors and their staff in serving the Department's many audiences;
Formulates policy and regulations for OC media coordination
Coordinates and reviews printed publications or reports prior to public release; and
Coordinates response to inquiries from major national news outlets.
The team includes five communications coordinators serving as senior communications advisors to USDA's seven mission areas, working directly with Under Secretaries and top staff, as well as servicing the Secretary's Office and Departmental staff offices for media relations and press and public communications and strategic services.
Director, Office of Communications
Matt Paul
202-720-4623 - FAX 202-720-5402
Rm 412-A, Whitten Building
Washington, DC 20250-1301
Deputy Director, Office of Communications, Operations
Justin DeJong
202-720-4623 - FAX 202-720-5402
Rm 402-A, Whitten Building
Washington, DC 20250-1301 justin.dejong@oc.usda.gov
Press Secretary Courtney Rowe 202-720-4623 - FAX 202-720-5402 Rm 403-A, Whitten Building Washington, DC 20250-1301 courtney.rowe@oc.usda.gov
Deputy Press Secretary Stephanie Chan 202-720-5555 - FAX 202-720-5402 Rm 404-A, Whitten Building Washington, DC 20250-1301 stephanie.chan@oc.usda.gov
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Communications Coordination Team
Nutrition
Brooke Hardison
202-720-2091 - FAX 202-720-5402
Rm 406-A, Whitten Building
Washington, DC 20250-1301 brooke.hardison@oc.usda.gov
Food Safety; Local and Regional Food Systems
Michelle Saghafi
202-720-6959 - FAX 202-720-5402
Rm 407-A, Whitten Building
Washington, DC 20250-1301 michelle.saghafi@oc.usda.gov
Emergency Response; The People's Garden Initiative; Departmental Management
Angela Harless 202-720-6569 - FAX 202-720-5402 419-A, Whitten Building Washington, DC 20250-1301 angela.harless@usda.gov
Conservation; Climate Change
Donna Drelick (Acting)
202-720-9065 - FAX 202-720-5402
Rm 421-A, Whitten Building
Washington, DC 20250-1301 ddrelick@fs.fed.us
Rural Development; Biobased Energy
Wayne Maloney 202-720-0494 - FAX 202-720-5402 Room 408-A, Whitten Building Washington, DC 20250-1301 wayne.maloney@oc.usda.gov
Agricultural Production; Trade
Matthew Herrick 202-720-4623 - FAX 202-720-5402 Rm 405-A, Whitten Building Washington, DC 20250-1301 matthew.herrick@oc.usda.gov