A native of Maryland, Cindy Smith began serving as the administrator of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services in September 2007. 

 

Smith began her career with APHIS in 1979, shortly after graduating high school. While working her way through APHIS, Smith completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Microbiology from the University of Maryland in 1983 and a master’s degree in management from the University of Maryland in 2000. At APHIS she supported a number of different programs, including plant protection and quarantine, wildlife services and biotechnology regulatory services.

 

From 2001 to 2002, Smith was the associate deputy administrator for wildlife services. Subsequently, Smith served as the deputy administrator for biotechnology regulatory services and played a major role in shaping the agency’s biotechnology regulatory structure, establishing requirements for field tests of genetically engineered crops and initiating efforts to review the agency’s biotechnology regulations. 

 

In April 2007, Smith was appointed the associate administrator of APHIS.