WASHINGTON, September 8, 2006--Agriculture Under Secretary for Rural Development Thomas Dorr today announced the appointment of Jackie J. Gleason as Administrator of USDA Rural Development's Business and Cooperative Programs.

     "Jackie has served USDA with distinction, both here in Washington, D.C., and in the Pacific Northwest. He also worked tirelessly to assist those displaced in the aftermath of last year's hurricanes. In his role as Administrator of Business and Cooperative Programs, he's responsible for a dozen programs, including Business and Industry guaranteed loans, the Value Added Producer Grant program and much of our renewable energy effort. I am confident in his ability to get the job done," said Dorr.

     Gleason joined USDA in 1976 and was appointed Rural Development Washington State Director in 2001, a position he held until 2004. He left that position to become Deputy Administrator for Rural Development Multi-Family Housing Programs and last year was appointed Associate Administrator of Housing Programs. Earlier this year he was asked to assume the position of Administrator of Business and Cooperative Programs on an acting basis. Gleason holds a Bachelor of Science degree in soil science from University of California. He is a Vietnam Veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1972.