Miss. Senators Recommended Greenville Native and Hyde-Smith Aide for Key USDA Agency in Mississippi
U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today welcomed the appointment of Greenville native John G. Campbell as the new State Director for USDA Rural Development in Mississippi.
The Mississippi Senators recommended Campbell, who is a senior policy aide in Hyde-Smith’s Washington office, for the position. Campbell assumes State Director responsibilities on July 6, replacing John Rousaville.
“John Gordon’s education, background, and broad experience will serve Mississippians well as he takes on the position of State Director for USDA Rural Development in Mississippi. A son of the Mississippi Delta, he understands the unique needs and ways of rural communities in our state,” Hyde-Smith said. “I am grateful for his service while I served as Mississippi’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce and as I became a U.S. Senator. I wish him well and look forward to working with him in his new role within the Trump administration.”
“John Campbell is an outstanding choice to be USDA’s Rural Development State Director for Mississippi,” Wicker said. “With nearly two decades of experience working on policy issues important to agriculture and rural America, he will do a great job helping communities in our state to grow and prosper. I look forward to working with John in this new position.”
“John Campbell brings a wealth of experience to his new position, and I welcome him to the Rural Development team,” said USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities because when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
As state director, Campbell will administer USDA Rural Development programs and set priorities particular to the rural needs of Mississippi. Rural development programs cover a broad range of issues, including economic development, business and cooperative services, utilities, and housing.
Campbell brings to the job almost 15 years of experience in the agricultural and rural setting, including roles in Mississippi and the nation’s capital. He joined the staff of Hyde-Smith in 2018, handling a wide range of legislative and policy areas, including economic development, energy, telecommunications and agriculture. He previously worked 12 years with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce where he held several positions, including State Entomologist, Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry, and Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce.
Campbell earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University in 2001 and a Master of Business Administration degree from Delta State University in 2004.