The U.S. Senate confirmed Jose Emilio Esteban, a veterinarian, as undersecretary for food safety with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in December.
Esteban currently serves as the chair for the Codex Alimentarius Commission Committee on Food Hygiene, which defines standards on food hygiene for international trade.
Prior to that, he had served at the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. There, he held the roles of laboratory director for the Western Laboratory, scientific adviser for laboratory services and research coordination, and executive associate for laboratory services.
Prior to joining the USDA, Esteban worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an officer with the Epidemic Intelligence Service, a staff epidemiologist, and an assistant director of the Food Safety Office.
Esteban earned his veterinary degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He also has earned an MBA, a master’s degree in preventive veterinary medicine, and a doctorate in epidemiology from the University of California-Davis.
“As we continue to push forward our commitment to create a safe, sustainable, competitive U.S. food and fiber system, Dr. Esteban’s leadership will be invaluable to our team,” said Tom Vilsack, U.S. agriculture secretary, in a statement upon Dr. Esteban’s nomination.
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