Kevin Shea (administrator)
Kevin Shea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Acting United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| Assumed office January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Sonny Perdue |
| Succeeded by | Tom Vilsack (nominee) |
| Personal details | |
| Education | DeMatha Catholic High School University of Maryland, College Park (BA) University of Baltimore (JD) |
Kevin Shea is an American administrator who has served as the acting United States Secretary of Agriculture since January 20, 2021.[1] A career civil servant, he has also served as the Administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture, since June 18, 2013.[2]
As administrator, Shea has filed legal complaints against tiger owners violating the Animal Welfare Act of 1966, including one in July 2016 against Tim Stark and Wildlife in Need;[3] and again in August 2020, against Jeff Lowe, the former business partner of Joe Exotic, regarding the alleged mistreatment of his tiger cubs.[4] The latter case resulted in a federal judge, John F. Heil III, requiring the surrender of all tiger cubs in mid-January 2021.[5]
Shea is a graduate of DeMatha Catholic High School; the University of Maryland in College Park; and the University of Baltimore School of Law, summa cum laude.[2] He has worked at the Department of Agriculture since 1978.[1] A decorated employee, Shea has received Presidential Rank Awards for Distinguished Service (2012) and Meritorious Service (2009) from President Obama, and Distinguished Service (2004) from President Bush.
References
- ^ a b Ferguson, James (January 21, 2021). "Kevin Shea is acting Ag Secretary, until Vilsack confirmation". RFD-TV. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "APHIS Leadership and Biographies". USDA. January 20, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Shipman, Bobby; Goetz, Kristina (July 14, 2016). "USDA files formal complaint against Wildlife in Need". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
- ^ Clay, Nolan (August 24, 2020). "'Tiger King' zookeeper Jeff Lowe willfully violated animal welfare regulations, feds say". USA Today. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Spears, Darcy (January 18, 2021). "Federal court crackdown forces 'Tiger King's' Jeff Lowe to surrender cubs". KTNV-13. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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