WASHINGTON DC (March 20, 2020) — Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of David Wu to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Mr Wu will be assuming the role following the departure of Deputy Assistant Secretary Don Bice.
“Don Bice has played a critical role in ensuring USDA is the most efficient, effective, customer-focused agency in the federal government. He has made great strides in the modernization of the Department and has carried out our vision with dedication and passion. I thank Don for his service on behalf of the American people and wish him well in the future,” said Sec Perdue. “David Wu’s extensive experience and expertise make him a perfect fit for this role. I am confident that with David Wu’s leadership, USDA will continue to carry out our mission to provide the American people with the best customer service in the federal government.”
“I am grateful to Sec Perdue for allowing me the opportunity to serve as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration and be a part of his leadership team. I am proud of what the DA family and our extended USDA family have accomplished,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Bice. “With Secretary Perdue at the helm, aided by very talented and dedicated USDA employees, I am confident that USDA will thrive and continue to improve its service to the American people, and deliver on the Secretary’s vision to ‘Do Right and Feed Everyone.’”
Background:
Don Bice served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration since February of 2018 but led Department Administration since September of 2017. As Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bice spearheaded efforts to modernize and improve the delivery of administrative services. Through his leadership and oversight, USDA has become a leader across the federal government in the administrative space. Prior to being the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration, Bice held multiple positions in USDA’s Office of Budget and Program Analysis and was responsible for managing the development and execution of the Department’s budget, managing the Department’s regulatory and legislative reporting processes, and coordinating the Department’s performance improvement activities.
David Wu officially joined the US Department of Agriculture on October 21, 2019 as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Administration. Wu, a native of California, comes to the USDA from Kentucky where he was the Director of Business Innovations and Process Improvements for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which houses the majority of Kentucky state government. Previously, Wu hired the cabinet and ran the administration for the Governor of Illinois as the state's Director of Government Transformation and Chief Operating Officer. In addition, he has extensive private sector experience in finance, journalism and start-ups in the US and overseas. Wu previously served as a policy director for former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. He also worked for Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. Wu earned a bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, a master’s degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin — Madison, and an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.
