Temporary Leadership Changes Announced for Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama

Temporary Leadership Changes Announced for Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama

Auburn, Alabama – Effective January 2, 2024. Alabama State Conservationist, Ben Malone, will serve a 120-day detail at the National Headquarters Office of NRCS. In his acting role, Malone will serve as the Acting Associate Deputy Chief of Soil Science Resource Assessment. In this role, Malone will provide his valuable insight to leadership for addressing the scientific basis for conservation and sustainable agriculture, inventories of U.S. natural resources, their ecological transitions, and analyzing the effects of voluntary conservation practices across working lands nationwide. 

In Malone’s absence, Brandon McCray Assistant State Conservationist for Partnerships, will serve as the Acting State Conservationist of Alabama NRCS. McCray earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriscience degree from Alabama A&M University in 2008. 

McCray began his career with NRCS in the summer of 2008 as an intern in Thibodaux, Louisiana as a Soil/ Engineering Conservation Technician working out of the watershed construction office.  In 2009, McCray became a Soil Conservationist and served in the Athens and Florence, Alabama Offices. In 2013, McCray became the District Conservationist and served in the Wedowee, Alabama field office. 

In 2015, he became the District Conservationist and served in the Autaugaville, Alabama Field Office. In 2016 McCray became a Resource Conservationist at the Alabama NRCS State Office. As the Resource Conservationist, he served as the State EQIP & CSP manager. In 2019, McCray served as an Acting Farm Bill Specialist in Washington, DC. There he worked on the national FAPD policy and implementation staff. Also in 2019, McCray accepted the Financial Assistance Program Specialist position in Temple, Texas. He served as the state EQIP manager and was the state point of contact for CRP.

In the summer of 2020, McCray became Assistant State Conservationist for Partnerships at the Alabama State Office. A native of Geneva County, Alabama, McCray grew up on his great grandfather’s peanut, corn, and soybean farm. 

He is married to Marie, his wonderful wife of 15 years. They are proud parents of Savannah and Clara Jane. McCray enjoys hunting, in-shore fishing, serving at church, and gardening. McCray looks forward to serving the producers and NRCS employees of Alabama in this capacity. 

Ms. Tamarra Roseburgh will serve as the Acting Assistant State Conservationist for Partnerships for Brandon McCray. 

Tamarra, a Michigan native, began her career with NRCS in 2009 as a SCEP intern. She interned in various locations for three years, specifically Paw Paw, Lapeer, and West Branch Michigan. In 2012, Ms. Roseburgh obtained her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from Fort Valley State University. Shortly after graduating, she took the position as the Soil Conservationist at the Ann Arbor Service Center in Ann Arbor, MI serving Washtenaw and Wayne Counties. In 2015, Ms. Roseburgh became the District Conservationist at the Monroe Service Center in Monroe, MI. 

In addition, Ms. Roseburgh also had a collateral duty serving on the Civil Rights Advisory Committee as the Black Special Emphasis Program Manager.

In 2018, she became the District Conservationist in South Carolina where she serviced Chesterfield and Lancaster Counties. She later became a State Program Manager for both Kansas and Michigan. 

Ms. Roseburgh started her role as the Outreach Coordinator for Alabama in April of 2023. Tamarra is looking forward to this opportunity. Her goal is to continue maintaining and building strong partnerships for Alabama NRCS.

For any questions regarding the information above, please contact Rafael Rodriguez at (334) 887-4575 or via email at rafael.rodriguez@usda.gov.

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