
Mr. Joseph T. Abbott

Joseph T. Abbott was named the chief human capital officer for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (FSIS) Office of Management (OM) in July of 2014. In this role, Abbott aligns HR strategy with organizational goals, fosters a learning culture to attract top talent and implements data-driven talent management practices to drive performance and growth. Fulfilling these roles allows Abbott to demonstrate a commitment to the successful implementation of FSIS’ Strategic Goals — Goal 1: Prevent Foodborne Illness and Protect Public Health; Goal 2: Transform Inspection Strategies, Policies and Scientific Approaches to Improve Public Health; and Goal 3: Achieve Operational Excellence.
Before taking on the role of chief human capital officer, Abbott joined FSIS in 2013 and served as assistant director for the Labor and Employee Relations (LER) Division of OM. Abbott joined the federal government in 1994, after ten years of military service in the U.S. Army working in both aviation and personnel management assignments. From 1994-2000, he served as a labor and employee relations specialist with U.S. Customs in Chicago, Detroit and Washington D.C. He then served with the Internal Revenue Service as a senior labor relations specialist from 2000-2003. In 2003, Abbott transitioned to the newly formed U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where he served until 2009. During his tenure there, he served in multiple leadership positions, such as the director of Field LER Services as well as director of National Recruitment and deputy director for Human Resource (HR) Operations, Programs, and Policy. After one year with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Workforce Management as director of client services, he served from 2010–2013 as the director of HR Operations with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security.
Abbott is a graduate of La Salle University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He also completed the Senior Executive Fellows and Crisis Leadership programs at Harvard University’s Harvard Kennedy School, as well as the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Executive Institute program. His military honors include the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.