President George W. Bush has approved the following three USDA employees to receive the 2004 President's Rank Award as "Distinguished Executives" and one in the category of "Distinguished Senior Professional" for their exceptional long-term accomplishments

Food & Drink Weekly, Sept 19, 2005

President George W. Bush has approved the following three USDA employees to receive the 2004 President's Rank Award as "Distinguished Executives" and one in the category of "Distinguished Senior Professional" for their exceptional long-term accomplishments: W. Ron DeHaven, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in recognition for his leadership on animal identification national plans for disease control and for implementing a national surveillance plan to ensure continued eradication of exotic Newcastle disease; Kevin Shea, APHIS, in recognition for his work to help shape policies touching every sector of agriculture, ensuring the health and worldwide marketability of U.S.

agricultural products; and Patrick McCaskey, Food Safety Inspection Service, in recognition for his national leadership in the effort to enhance laboratory services in support of public health and food security. Robert Davis, Agricultural Research Service, received a President's Rank Award in the category of "Distinguished Senior Professional" in recognition for his career at ARS, which includes work that has had major effects on the direction of research in agriculture and microbiology and enhanced worldwide capabilities to control and prevent the spread of damaging crop diseases.