Miley Gonzalez, Secretary of Agriculture

Dr. Miley Gonzalez was appointed as Director/Secretary for the Department of Agriculture for the State of New Mexico in 2003. He has served as President and CEO of Gonzalez and Associates, a private agri-business and educational consulting firm and is the owner and CEO for Development Systems International, Inc. His areas of expertise include education and training, extension and non-formal education, with special emphasis in leadership, policy, and public service.

He has served on the faculty and administration at the University of Arizona, Pennsylvania State University, Iowa State University, and holds tenure at New Mexico State University. Secretary Gonzalez currently chairs the Agriculture Biotechnology Task Force for the National Association of State Department of Agriculture; and co-chairs the U.S./Mexico delegation for the Tri-National Agricultural Accord with Canada and Mexico.

His public service includes serving as the Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics at USDA in the Clinton Administration. He was nominated for the position by President Clinton and confirmed by the Senate in 1997. He has served as a member of the National Telephone Bank Board, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the White House Commission for Excellence in Hispanic and Native American Education, and the U.S./China Commission on Science and Technology.

After serving in those capacities for over four years, he returned to New Mexico State University to serve as Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station and subsequently as the Interim vice Provost for Research and the federal liaison to Congress for New Mexico State University.

Dr. Gonzalez holds bachelors and master’s degrees from the University of Arizona and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University. Among his many honors over a thirty-five year professional career, Hispanic Business Magazine has recognized him as one of the top 100 most influential Hispanics in the U.S. He continues to do research on the needs of small businesses involved in agriculture, urban programs in agricultural education, and international marketing and trade. Of special note, he has conducted training programs in Costa Rica, the Ukraine, India, Egypt, China, Mexico and 16 countries in Latin America. Secretary Gonzalez continues to be actively involved in an international agenda and is a requested speaker at numerous national and international events.

Secretary Gonzalez holds both the American FFA Degree and the Honorary American FFA Degree. He is a charter member (# 48) of the FFA Alumni Association.