President Obama selected Brandon McBride, a Senate Agriculture Committee staff worker, to serve as administrator of USDA’s Rural Utilities Services, the White House announced. The post requires Senate confirmation. McBride has worked for the committee since 2009 and was an aide to then-Sen Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas from 2001-09. RUS is part of USDA’s rural economic development wing. Its portfolio includes rural power, telecommunications, and water and sewer development.