Carew Named Kentucky Farm Service Executive State Director

Friday, April 15, 2022

Thursday, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint eight U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regional positions, including five Farm Service Agency (FSA) state executive directors and three Rural Development (RD) state directors.

"Here at USDA, we continue to add experience and talented individuals to our state offices," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "I have full confidence in the work these new state directors and state executive directors will accomplish to advance USDA's mission in their local communities."

FSA state executive directors oversee Farm Service Agency operations and agricultural policy implementation in the state. Each state executive director works with the state committee to administer FSA programs and county office operations, develops and maintains stakeholder relationships with customers and other agencies and governments.

RD state directors serve as the chief executive officer of Rural Development in the states and territories and are tasked with carrying out the mission of Rural Development to the benefit of everyone in rural America. In conjunction with the guidance and support of the national office, state directors are responsible for promoting the mission and strategic goals of Rural Development and provide key leadership to develop and support a productive, diverse, and inclusive state workforce.

Thomas Carew has been appointed RD state director in Kentucky.

Prior to joining USDA, Carew served as the executive vice president of membership and advocacy for Fahe in Central Appalachia. While at Fahe, Tom was the principal author of the 502 Direct Packaging Demonstration with USDA. Through his leadership, Fahe's membership grew from 44, to include more than 55, affordable housing nonprofits. Carew helped lead the expansion of Fahe housing programs into Alabama and Maryland.

Carew was the founding executive director of Frontier Housing, a non-profit, affordable housing developer based in Morehead. He is also the recipient of the Dorothy Williams Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kentucky Housing Corporation -- the highest award given in the Commonwealth for non-profit housing producers.

In 2010, Carew received the Cochran Collings award from the Housing Assistance Council for service to Rural America.