By Dr. April Haynes, OFO

Senior Risk Analyst Dr. Mike Williams has enjoyed the intellectual challenges that have come up during his 16-year career with the FSIS Risk Assessment and Analytics Staff in the Office of Public Health Science. He develops and tests methods to statistically quantify bacteria and make predictions about bacterial contamination in meat, poultry and egg products. Dr. Willams has directly impacted FSIS decision-making through his scientific publications, risk assessments and analyses. Dr. Williams holds a doctorate in forestry.

Applying Mathematics to Public Service

Dr. Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in 1987 and a master’s degree in 1990 in applied mathematics from Colorado State University (CSU). He began his federal career in 1987 as a volunteer with USDA’s Forest Service, using this experience to be hired as a mathematical statistician. His work with the Forest Service focused on using data to assess how much and where timber was available within the U.S. He also assisted in developing novel ways to measure the ecological impact of decaying timber.

While at the Forest Service, Dr. Williams realized he needed more statistics training and completed a master’s program at CSU in 1996. Following the mantra “never stop learning,” he continued his education by returning part-time to CSU in 1998. He pursued a doctorate in forestry, which he earned in 2006. Looking back, he said, “I might have been the longest continuously registered student at CSU.”

In 2005, Dr. Williams transitioned to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) as a statistician/data analyst. His primary project was assessing the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the U.S. for international trade purposes. Dr. Williams also tracked other livestock diseases, such as tuberculosis, scrapie and brucellosis.

He became aware of FSIS through his APHIS colleagues and came to FSIS in 2007.

Finding Missing Pieces to Develop Solutions

Dr. Williams interprets data collected by FSIS to determine the frequency, quantity and identity of bacterial contamination in meat and poultry products. He says, “sampling results give a snapshot of the type and degree of contamination present in a sample. These snapshots are then worked with statistics to help predict how much and type of contamination is really in the sample.” Dr. Williams then uses this information to help make predictions on the type of contamination expected in samples collected across the country.

He also uses the data to determine how contamination has changed over time and how these changes relate to human health. He feels that one of his most important contributions is providing the scientific evidence that helps FSIS move forward with its effort to reduce contamination and human illnesses associated with FSIS-regulated products. Lastly, Dr. Williams evaluates the potential impact of new rules and regulations on the risk of foodborne illness. His supervisor applauds Dr. Williams as “one of the key architects of two risk assessments that serve as scientific support for the Salmonella Framework — a regulatory framework for a new strategy to control Salmonella in poultry products and more effectively reduce foodborne Salmonella infections linked to these products. The work he does has a real-world impact on our policies and practices.” Dr. Williams envisions an approach that would link FSIS data with other agencies’ to identify correlations between data collected at pre- and post-harvest, retail, and illness outbreaks.

Dr. Williams’ projects often focus on long-term goals, which take months or years to complete. To tackle these complicated projects, he breaks the problem down into components. He says, “I came from a research background and from that I learned that you have to sit down, look at the primary problem and then compartmentalize it into many subproblems.” He focuses on one component at a time, resolving it before moving on to the next, and ultimately solving the larger problem. He relates his work to constructing a jigsaw puzzle, looking for clues about the piece to determine where it fits in the overall design.

He feels that using science is the most important aspect in influencing policy decisions and improving food safety. A family member’s experience with foodborne illness brought home the importance of FSIS’ mission to protect public health. He is motivated by the idea of public service and the conviction that “we should be doing the science part of improving food safety.”

Leveraging FSIS Core Values

Dr. Williams says he fits the Solutions-Oriented Core Value most closely, as he enjoys many opportunities to solve problems every day and finds the intellectual challenge of finding simple solutions interesting. One of his roles is critically reviewing the work of others, identifying statistical issues and concerns, and coming up with solutions to ensure that FSIS produces high-quality and accurate work. In those instances, he strives to help develop solutions that will improve the statistical process or strength of interpretation.

His supervisor agrees, saying, “Mike is an incredibly hard worker, and he is driven to find solutions to the problems he is presented with. He also goes above and beyond when a solution is particularly hard to find; putting in extra time and effort to find an answer.”

Dr. Williams describes himself as principled in his approach to ensuring the results are scientifically accurate. He feels this is vital because policy is informed by these results. He knows that protecting the public “is why we’re here, and this is what we’re supposed to be doing. As public servants, we must remember who the ultimate customer is.”

He knows the importance of leveraging teamwork to accomplish goals, particularly when working across groups or with other agencies. Dr. Williams works on a team with a broad range of educational backgrounds. He benefits from this diversity by drawing on their knowledge and adding his own insight to the team. His supervisor describes him as “thoughtful, insightful and motivated to share his knowledge with others, particularly those new to the field or agency.”

Outside of Work

He and his wife, Tammy, have a 25-year-old daughter, and a son-in-law who is joining their family. Dr. Williams is the daily focus of Bean, their mixed-breed dog, who uses her herding instincts to manipulate him for treats.

Dr. Williams uses his drive to “make something better” in his personal life, whether it’s a day dedicated to home improvements, restoring classic cars or bicycle racing. He would often bring home a wrecked car and perform research to determine how to restore it. His interest in cycling began 30 years ago, and he travels about two to three times per year to participate in national-level races. He enjoys methodically breaking down aspects of the race to devise methods to increase his speed, through physiologic training or personally modifying his equipment.

Photo by Tammy Williams, Dr. Williams’ wife.

Pictured above, Dr. Mike Williams with family dog, Bean enjoying lunch outdoors in Colorado.

Photo by Tammy Williams, Dr. Williams’ wife.