WASHINGTON — The US Senate confirmed two key positions for agriculture and food safety on Dec. 23.

Jose Emilio Esteban, DVM, became the undersecretary for food safety after being nominated for the position in November 2021.

Doug McKalip, was also confirmed for the chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). McKalip cleared the Senate Finance Committee unanimously in September.

Esteban has worked in several roles at the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Since 2018, he held the position of chief scientist at the FSIS and worked for the agency since 2001.  

Prior to working with FSIS, Esteban served at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an epidemic intelligence service officer, staff epidemiologist and assistant director of the food safety office.

McKalip has worked in federal service for 29 years as an agriculture policy leader and trade expert. Most recently, he served as senior advisor to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

In his remarks on the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Vilsack thanked the Senate for taking action on nominees crucial to the USDA’s mission, including Esteban, McKalip and Alexis Taylor, who received her confirmation for undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs before the closing on Congress.

After receiving the confirmation, the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) congratulated McKalip.

“With the US currently engaged in negotiations with several key trading partners, filling this important position was absolutely essential,” said Dan Halstrom, president and chief executive officer of USMEF. “We look forward to working with Ambassador McKalip and wish him well in his new role at USTR.”