The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is an independent legal agency within the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). OGC provides legal advice and services to the Secretary of Agriculture and to all other officials and agencies of the Department with respect to all USDA programs and activities. All legal services are centralized within OGC and the General Counsel reports directly to the Secretary.
The General Counsel is assisted by two Deputy General Counsels, a Senior Counselor, five Associate General Counsels, a Director of Administration and Resource Management, and four Regional Attorneys.
Leadership
Ramona E. Romero, General Counsel, 202-720-3351
Frederick Pfaeffle Arana, Principal Deputy General Counsel, 202-720-9062
Inga Bumbary-Langston, Deputy General Counsel, 202-690-2081
L. Benjamin Young, Associate General Counsel, General Law and Research Division, 202-720-4814
Vacant, Associate General Counsel, Marketing, Regulatory, and Food Safety Programs Division, 202-720-5550
David P. Grahn, Associate General Counsel, International Affairs, Food Assistance, and Farm and Rural Programs Division, 202-720-6187
Arlean Leland, Associate General Counsel, Civil Rights, Labor and Employment Law Division, 202-720-1760
Ralph A. Linden, Associate General Counsel, Natural Resources and Environment Division, 202-720-6883
Charlene Buckner, Director, Administration and Resource Management, 202-720-6324
Andrea Foster, Regional Attorney, Atlanta, GA, 404-347-1060
Lisa A. Christian, Regional Attorney, Denver, CO, 303-275-5536
John Vos, Regional Attorney, Kansas City, MO, 816-823-4646
Jeff Moulton, Regional Attorney, San Francisco, CA, 415-744-3011
Jocelyn Somers, President, AFGE Local 1106, Portland, OR, 503-326-4158
Geographic Locations
The work of the office is carried out in Washington, D. C., four regional offices, and 13 branch offices.
