David R. Shipman is the Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service at the United States Department of Agriculture. He is responsible for a wide range of programs that facilitate the domestic and international marketing of U.S. agricultural products.

Under Mr. Shipman's direction USDA establishes quality standards and delivers grading services for meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables, cotton and a variety of other products. A national team of federal and state market reporters work under his direction to report daily commodity prices used by those selling and buying commodities every day. He also oversees the operation of industry-funded research and promotion programs, such as the Dairy Board with its "Got Milk" slogan.

More recently, he has been actively engaged in implementing a variety of the 2008 Farm Bill provisions, including a number of expanded grant programs to support farm conversion to organic operations and to promote the marketing of specialty crops. He has also directed the implementation of the Farm Bill required Country of Origin Labeling of food.

Mr. Shipman is responsible for the purchase of over a billion dollars of agricultural products annually for the school lunch program and a variety of other federal food assistance programs. In support of this procurement program, he is currently managing the development of a multiple agency Web-based supply chain management system that will reach out to NGO's around the world and school districts through the U.S. for placing orders and will touch everyone along the supply chain.

Prior to joining AMS, Mr. Shipman served as the Deputy Administrator for USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration where he worked with the grain industry to establish quality standards, deliver independent third party inspection services, and provide technical support to address non-tariff trade barriers and facilitate the marketing of agriculture products around the world.

Mr. Shipman was recognized for his contribution to the U.S. Government and American Agriculture by both former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush with the President's distinguished service award.