United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service Washington, DC  20250

Animal and Egg Production Food Safety Staff

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John R. Ragan, D.V.M
National Program Leader Livestock

Dr. John Ragan joined FSIS in December, 1997 as the National Livestock Program Leader on the Animal Production Food Safety Staff. Dr. Ragan is a native of Tennessee, and received his B.Sc. in Animal Husbandry from Tennessee Tech University. He gained a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.

Prior to joining FSIS, he served as Laboratory Diagnostician in the Tennessee Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and as State Veterinarian of Tennessee. During his tenure as State Veterinarian, the state successfully eradicated pullorum/typhoid in poultry, hog cholera, swine brucellosis, cattle brucellosis, cattle tuberculosis, and pseudorabies in swine. Dramatic progress was made in control of equine infections anemia. As a recognized leader in animal health and food safety, Dr. Ragan has served as President of the United States Animal Health Association, Chairman of the Board of Livestock Conservation Institute (now NIAA), member of the National Pseudorabies Control Board, Chairman of the National Users’Advisory Board on Research and Extension in Food and Agriculture, and a member of the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal Diseases of Livestock and Poultry. His achievements have been noted by numerous awards and citations from state and federal governments, universities, and professional organizations.

These accomplishments were, in large degree, the result of gathering support and assistance from the variety of state, federal, academic, and industry players necessary for success in complex statewide or nationwide programs. Dr. Ragan has continued the work of building partnerships in his service on the Animal and Egg Production Food Safety Staff at FSIS. Partnering with other federal and state agencies, veterinarians, and food animal producers in efforts to coordinate food safety research, maintain effective liaison, and provide education and information to producers continues to be the basis of his food safety work.

For further information contact:

Food Safety and Inspection Service
Office of Policy, Program Development and Evaluation
Animal and Egg Production Food Safety Staff
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Room 0002
Washington, DC  20250
Telephone:  202-690-2683
Fax:  202-720-8213