NRCS is led by a Chief, an Associate Chief, Regional Conservationists and Deputy Chiefs over different focus areas. They provide leadership, guidance, and support for the agency’s locally-led conservation programs, partnership efforts, and business operations throughout the United States and abroad.
Acting Chief Louis Aspey
Louis Aspey is currently serving as Acting Chief of NRCS, providing overall leadership for the agency’s activities. Before this role, Aspey served as NRCS Associate Chief, directing and overseeing the agency's financial and technical assistance programs, management and strategy, science and technology, and soil science and resource assessment. See full biography.
Acting Associate Chief James Tillman, Sr.
James Tillman is currently serving as Acting Associate Chief of NRCS. Before this role, Tillman served as Regional Conservationist for the Southeast Region.
Regional Conservationists
The Regional Conservationists oversee NRCS’s four regions (link to the attached map) in the Northeast, Southeast, Central, and West. They are the NRCS Chief’s leadership representatives and provide overall direction for agency operations, programs, activities, and personnel consistent with the Chief’s guidance. Regional Conservationists supervise the agency’s State Conservationists and Directors of the Pacific Islands and Caribbean Areas:
- Astor Boozer, West
- Kasey Taylor Northeast
- Curtis Elke Central
- Sheldon Hightower, Southeast (Acting)
Deputy Chief for Management and Strategy
Deputy Chief for Management and Strategy Angela Biggs is responsible for outreach and partnerships, international programs, strategic support services, and policy and program analysis. See full biography.
Deputy Chief for Programs
Deputy Chief of Programs Karen Woodrich is responsible for the delivery of financial assistance programs, easement programs and conservation technical assistance. See full biography.
Deputy Chief for Science and Technology
Deputy Chief of Science and Technology Noller Herbert ensures scientifically sound conservation practices, technology acquisition, development, and transfer. See full biography.
Deputy Chief for Soil Science and Resource Assessment
Deputy Chief for Soil Science and Resource Assessment Dr. Terron Hillsman provides leadership for addressing the scientific basis for conservation and sustainable agriculture, inventories of U.S. natural resources and their ecological transitions, and analyzing the effects of voluntary conservation practices across working lands nationwide. See full biography.
NRCS recently lost a valued leader, colleague, and friend, Dr. Luis “Louie” Tupas. Dr. Tupas served as the Deputy Chief for Soil Science and Resource Assessment from 2020-2023. See his full biography here.