Dave White, Chief
Dave White has served as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for the past three years. As Chief, he oversees programs that help protect the environment and preserve our natural resources through voluntary, private lands conservation. He leads a staff of 12,000 employees across the country and manages a budget of more than $4 billion.
White’s career with NRCS has spanned 35 years. From 2002 to 2008, he served as the NRCS State Conservationist in Montana where he led efforts to help farmers and ranchers improve agricultural production while reducing their environmental impact. For much of 2007 and 2008, he was detailed to Iowa Senator Tom Harkin’s office in Washington, D.C., where he helped the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry craft the conservation title of the 2008 Farm Bill.
White’s earlier positions include work as an NRCS Conservation Aid; service as NRCS’ Director of Congressional Relations; and two details on the staff of Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, supporting agriculture committee work on energy and the 2002 Farm Bill. He also served as Director of Communications for the White House Task Force for Livable Communities.
White is a graduate of the University of Missouri where he studied agriculture. He and his wife live in Charlottesville, Virginia and have a grown son and daughter.
