WAOB Staff
Leadership
Mark Jekanowski, WAOB Chairperson
Dr. Mark Jekanowski is Chairman of USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB), where he is responsible for the monthly forecasts of the World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report and the work of the Joint Agricultural Weather Facility. Dr. Jekanowski also serves as Program Chairman for USDA’s largest annual meeting, the Agricultural Outlook Forum.
Dr. Jekanowski joined the WAOB in August 2018 as Deputy Chairman. Previous positions with USDA include Deputy Director for Outlook at the Economic Research Service, and Chief of the Crops Branch, also at the Economic Research Service.
William Chambers, WAOB Deputy Chairperson
Bill Chambers was appointed Deputy Chairperson for USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board (WOAB) in 2021. He formerly served as the WAOB Chair for food grains. He oversaw the preparation and release of USDA’s official supply and demand estimates pertaining to wheat and rice, which were released in the World Agricultural Supply and Demand (WASDE) report and other USDA publications. Dr. Chambers also served ten years as a commodity and policy analyst with USDA's Farm Service Agency where he analyzed commodity markets, farm policies, new program proposals, and budget outlays.
Mark Brusberg, Chief Meteorologist
Mark Brusberg serves as the Chief Meteorologist of USDA’s agricultural weather and assessments group, a component of the World Agricultural Outlook Board. In this capacity, Mr. Brusberg helps to coordinate the activities of USDA agencies responsible for weather- and climate-related issues and serves as a liaison with other organizations having similar interests, notably the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
He is a leading figure in the Department’s drought assessment and mitigation activities, and has worked toward improving the performance of the U.S. Drought Monitor through a strong partnership with the National Drought Mitigation Center. He serves on the Executive Council of the NOAA-led National Integrated Drought Information System and also serves in a leadership capacity with the National Drought Resilience Partnership, a multi-agency advisory group supporting the Executive Office of the President.
