ARS Administrators

Joon Park
Administrator

Mr. Joon Park was named as the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Administrator in November 2025. As Administrator, Mr. Park leads the men and women of ARS in delivering scientific solutions to national and global agricultural challenges through scientific excellence. Before being named Administrator, Mr. Park served as ARS Associate Administrator for Research Operations & Management where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of both headquarters and the 95 field research laboratories that are organized into 5 regional areas. Prior to this role, Mr. Park served as the Research, Education and Economics (REE) Mission Area Chief Operating Officer (COO) and the ARS Deputy Administrator for Administrative & Financial Management (AFM) where he was responsible for human resources, financial management, agreements, travel, facilities engineering, safety, acquisition, property, homeland security and information technology.

Mr. Park has held other positions with the USDA ARS to include serving as the ARS Human Resources Director and as the ARS South Atlantic Area Deputy Area Director for Business Management. Mr. Park began his Federal career with the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD through the Acquisition Intern Program in 1996 and served in various Logistics Management positions through 2007 when he served as the Director of Logistics for the Navy H-60 Multi-Mission Helicopter Program.

Mr. Park received a Presidential Rank Award as Meritorious Executive in 2022. He graduated from Liberty University in 1996 with a B.S. degree in Government and received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Johns Hopkins University in 2002. In addition, Mr. Park is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, VA, the National Security Studies Program at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C, the Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program at the American University in Washington D.C, and the USDA Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program (SESCDP).

Jeff Silverstein
Associate Administrator, National Programs

Dr. Jeff Silverstein started his career with USDA and the Agricultural Research Service in 1997 as a geneticist and breeder with the catfish aquaculture program in Stoneville, Mississippi. He moved to the Office of National Programs in 2007 and subsequently served as Associate Director in the Southeast Area Office and then as the Deputy Administrator for Animal Production and Protection in the Office of National Programs. In December 2024, he was selected as the Associate Administrator for National Programs. 

Silverstein led ARS teams in the launch of the ARS Grand Challenge-Synergies program and ARSX, the breakthrough innovation platform. He has worked with leading scientists from ARS and around the world as the co-chair of the Biosafety Level 4 Zoonotic Laboratory Network (BSL4ZNet), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Transboundary Animal Disease Threats working group, and the OSTP Subcommittee on Aquaculture. As Associate Administrator, working with expert colleagues across agricultural research fields covering animal and crop science, natural resources, human nutrition and food safety, he leads the program development and research prioritization for the agency.