Kevin Shea was appointed administrator of the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on June 18, 2013, after serving as acting administrator since June 2012. As administrator, Shea carries out the agency's broad mission of protecting and promoting American agriculture, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. In addition to his regular duties, Shea serves on the Secretary's Executive Resources Board and the Secretary's Management Council.
Before becoming administrator, Shea served as associate administrator since September 2004. Starting in 2000, Shea served as deputy administrator for Policy and Program Development, providing leadership for the overall planning and direction of policies, programs and activities at Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as well as being responsible for the agency's budget, regulation development and environmental compliance programs. Earlier in his career he worked as a budget analyst, Chief of the Program Analysis Branch, and Chief of the Policy Analysis and Development Staff. He also spent one year practicing law in the litigation department of Frank, Bernstein, Conaway and Goldman in Baltimore, Md.
Shea graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md. and the University of Maryland in College Park. He earned a law degree, summa cum laude, from the University of altimore School Of Law. Shea now resides in Crofton, MD.
