Dan Hunter Kellie Housewright-Smith join Ag Department Executive Team
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Throughout my campaign I stressed that
water would be one of my top priorities. By appointing Dan Hunter Assistant Commissioner for Water & Rural Affairs Im putting
one of our states leading water experts as one of my top advisors so we can refocus on helping ensure our state has adequate water
resources for the long-term. Its important to
Texas Agriculture our states largest user of water and all Texans and their families" said
Sid Miller Texas new Ag Commissioner.
Miller recently announced two senior level appointments to his
Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Executive Team.
Hunter will become Assistant Commissioner for Water & Rural Affairs and Kellie Housewright-Smith will become
Assistant Commissioner for Operations.
Dan Hunter (right) is currently the Executive Director of
the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER) at Tarleton State University in Stephenville Texas. TIAER was established by the Texas Legislature in 1991 to provide national leadership on emerging environmental
policy especially agriculture water issues."
Hunter has a background in working with national constituencies including federal agencies Congress and producer and consumer organizations. Under his leadership TIAER has become a leader in the field of water and environmental research around the globe.
Under Hunters leadership TIAER has water conservation and water quality project in every continent with the exception of Antarctica.
Earlier in his professional career Hunter served as the Government Relations Representative for the National Cotton Council a multifaceted trade association in Washington DC.
He has also worked as a legislative staff member for former Congressmen Larry Combest (R-TX) and Fred Grandy (R-IA). Hunter received degrees from Texas Tech University and Tarleton State University.
Kellie Housewright-Smith has years of experience running large complex private sector business operations. She was Director of Provider Relations Member Services and Human Resources for Cigna Heath Care a global health
insurance company where she supervised thousands of employees. A Registered Nurse she was the Administrator & Regional Advisor for Nurses House Call & Hooper Holmes.
Housewright-Smith served as Rural Health Care Advisor for former Congressman Greg Laughlin (R-TX) and as a member of the Health Care Task Force for Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX).
She was appointed by Texas Governors William P. Clements and Ann Richards as a member of the Maternal Infant & Child Health Care Commission and is a graduate of Texas Christian University.
As Assistant Commissioner for Operations Housewright-Smith will supervise Human Resources Administration Services Information Technology Information Resources and Financial operations at the TDA as well as manage the departments massive Food & Nutrition program. Because of her
health and human services background Kellie will also play an important role in assisting Commissioner Miller enhance and improve the TDAs rural health care program.
Kellie Housewright-Smith is a dynamic leader who has led large well-respected organizations managed thousands of people and served tens of thousands of consumers"
said Miller.
She has been a trusted advisor to both members of Congress and Texas Governors and I am so pleased she has agreed to join me at TDA to direct the agencys operations and its people"
Miller said.
