Scott Hutchins, an executive at the seed and ag chemical wing of DowDuPont, is President Trump’s choice for USDA chief scientist, announced the White House on Monday. The post of chief scientist, which doubles as undersecretary for research, has been vacant since Trump took office.
Hutchins, who’s from Indiana, is global leader of integrated field sciences for Corteva Agriscience, created this year out of the 2015 merger of Dow and DuPont. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Nebraska and was president of the Entomological Society of America in 2007. He has a doctorate in entomology from Iowa State University.
Trump’s first nominee for chief scientist, Sam Clovis, co-chair of Trump’s presidential campaign, was criticized as unqualified. He withdrew his nomination in November 2017 after court documents showed he had encouraged a campaign worker to meet Russian officials surreptitiously. He stayed at the USDA for six months before returning to Iowa.
“I am very excited by the selection of Dr. Hutchins for this leadership role at USDA,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in a statement. “His extensive background in research and commitment to sound science and data make him exceptionally qualified for this post.”
If confirmed by the Senate, Hutchins would be the second USDA senior executive from Indiana in the Trump era. The other is Ted McKinney, undersecretary for trade. McKinney worked for Dow and Elanco before becoming Indiana state agriculture director in 2014 under then-Gov. Mike Pence, now vice president.
Half of the eight sub-cabinet offices at the USDA — the executives who serve one step below Perdue and put Trump policies into action — are vacant. Now, including Hutchins, the White House has named candidates for three of the jobs.