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Board of Directors

FSIS Representatives

Dr. Shaw received both his Bachelor’s in Animal and Poultry Science and his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University. (c/o 2005 ) While in school, Dr. Shaw served as the student extern for the AVMA – Governmental Relations Division-Political Action Committee in Washington, D.C. While in this role, Dr. Shaw worked on the legislation that involved Terrorism Against Animal-Use Entities, U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy on drug compounding for nonfood animals, Humane Slaughter Legislation, Horse Slaughter Legislation, Puppy Protection Legislation, Exotic Animal Ownership Legislation among others. In his federal role, Dr. Shaw has served as a supervisory public health veterinarian over multiple establishments covering multiple species. He has also served with the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, the Office of Recruitment, the lead point of contact with the USDA Green Initiative Committee, and an I-Impact Team Lead and Trainer.

Dr. Teresa Martinez is currently a Frontline Supervisor/ Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian (SPHV/ FLS). Dr. Martinez is a 2002 graduate of Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Martinez has supervisory and leadership skills to include coaching, team building and performance evaluations to lead staff toward meeting the organization’s vision and mission goals. She works in program management responsible for the food safety compliance and enforcement program at 58 facilities. She continues to promote technical and nontechnical education thru outreach programs with intragovernmental and external organizations to promote knowledge of public health risks. Dr. Martinez used to work as a Senior Staff Veterinarian- Technical Trades Service (TTS), National Center for Import and Export (NCIE).

FSIS Alternates

Dr. Derrick Jones, Jr. is a native of Prince George’s County, Maryland. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Virginia Union University in 2013 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2018. He is currently pursuing his Master of Public Health degree from Walden University and will graduate next year. He now serves as a consumer safety officer within the Labeling and Program Delivery Staff for the United States Department of Agriculture – Food Safety and Inspection Service.v He holds memberships in several professional organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Association for Federal Veterinarians, and the national and local Maryland chapters of the Virginia Union University Alumni Association and the Tuskegee Veterinary Medical Alumni Association. He is also a proud member of Omega Tau Sigma International Veterinary Fraternity and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

An Atlanta native, I am a proud three-time alumna of Tuskegee University, holding a BS and MS in Animal Sciences (2015) and DVM (2019). I am also a soon to be graduate of The Ohio State University with an MPH-Veterinary Public Health specialization (expected December 2024). I have dedicated my career as a federal veterinarian to upholding the highest standards of animal health and public safety. My tenure with FSIS, including 2 years as an Adel A Malak Scholar/Student Veterinary Trainee, 2 years as a Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian, and 2 years as a Frontline Supervisor, has equipped me with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our field. As a passionate advocate for our profession, I am committed to fostering communication, promoting continuing education, and enhancing our collective expertise. I believe in the mission of NAFV and am eager to contribute to its growth and success by working collaboratively with all stakeholders. Your support will enable me to represent your interests effectively and ensure our voices are heard.

APHIS Representatives

Dr. Anna Bagwell is a native of upstate SC. She earned a BS in 2005 from Clemson University followed by her DVM in 2008 from the University of Georgia. Most recently, she earned her MBA from The Citadel in 2019. She is Board Certified in Veterinary Preventive Medicine and Laboratory Animal Medicine. She currently serves as Director, Animal Welfare Operations (Animal Care, APHIS), where she is responsible for leading the field force who ensure the welfare of animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act, as well as those used by the Federal Agricultural Research Service. Prior to joining Animal Care, Dr. Bagwell spent 13 years on active duty serving in the US Army Veterinary Corps before transitioning to the US Army Reserve, from which she recently retired. My goal as the APHIS representative on the Board of Directors is to improve awareness and participation in NAFV by APHIS VMOs and senior veterinary leaders and to leverage my 16 years of federal experience in operational management and interagency relations to build collaborative relationships between participating specialties and organizations. 

Dr. Richards received his DVM at Oklahoma State University (2007), and M.S. in Animal Science/Agriculture from New Mexico State University studying Bovine Respiratory Disease complex pathogens, endocrine and reproductive effects of toxic range plants, and conducting clinical field trials with conjugated RB51 bio-bullets as a potential vaccine for bison or cervid applications. He went on to work as a consultant/liaison to write policy and facilitate collaborative research in the land grant university system and the USDA-CSREES. Prior to joining APHIS, Dr. Richards brought over 16 years of experience within USDA having served as Frontline Supervisor in the Spokane, WA region with the FSIS in the Office of Field Operations, Denver District overseeing regulatory operations in over 40 slaughter/processing establishments. Also with FSIS, Dr. Richards was a relief Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian in slaughter/processing establishments, and a supervisory investigator managing comprehensive Food Safety Assessments/Investigations overseeing enforcement actions and regulatory operations. Dr. Richards served over 15 years in the ARMY Reserves as a public health officer working on animal health and humanitarian issues. He is currently working with APHIS-VS Cattle Health Center staff as a brucellosis VMO in the GYA.

APHIS Alternate

Dr. Raven A. “Alexis” Canady of Red Springs, North Carolina is interested in assisting the NAFV by serving as an APHIS representative. Dr. Canady received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Science in Food Safety from Michigan State University, her Master of Animal Science from North Carolina State University, and Bachelor of Science in Biology from Francis Marion University. Dr. Canady has been a member of the NAFV since joining federal service. She is currently working as a Veterinary Medical Officer with APHIS Veterinary Services, serving as a field veterinarian in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. Prior to joining APHIS VS, Dr. Canady was an Adel Malak Scholar and served with FSIS as a Supervisory Public Health Veterinarian then later, as a Frontline Supervisor. Dr. Canady is eager to assist and believes that she will prove to be an exceptional representative.

 

CDC Representatives

Dr. William L. “Billy” Walker received his DVM from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999 and Ph.D. in Veterinary Preventive Medicine from The Ohio State University in 2012 and he is board certified in epidemiology from the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. His career has included dairy herd-focused private veterinary practice in the San Joaquin Valley of California, academic practice at the UC Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine, and local public health practice in Fort Worth, Texas. He completed CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service training fellowship with the Arboviral Diseases Branch in 2018. Following EIS, he served as an epidemiologist and health scientist in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Outbreak Investigations Branch at CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination with activities focusing on TB disease and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) surveillance and zoonotic tuberculosis. From 2020 to 2021, he served as one of the national epidemiologists administering USDA’s National Bovine TB Eradication program and related activities. In 2021, he returned to his former Branch at CDC and his work currently focuses on outbreak investigations, molecular epidemiology and surveillance, and zoonotic TB-related activities. c

Dr. Adam J. Langer has been with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for over 18 years, and since November 2023 has served as the Associate Director for Science in CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention (NCHHSTP). In this role, Dr. Langer serves as NCHHSTP’s chief scientific quality and integrity officer. Previously, Dr. Langer served as Branch Chief, Surveillance Team Lead, and as a staff epidemiologist in the CDC Division of Tuberculosis Elimination and as lead of the Importations and Animal Contact Team in what is now CDC’s Division of Global Migration Health. Dr. Langer also completed CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service and Preventive Medicine Fellowships. Trained as a veterinarian, Dr. Langer is board-certified in veterinary preventive medicine. He practiced companion animal medicine in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland for five years before beginning his CDC career, and he maintains his clinical skills by providing veterinary services at the DeKalb County Animal Shelter near Atlanta. . In recognition of Dr. Langer’s contributions to public health, he has received the Diane Caves Early Career Award and the James H. Steele Veterinary Public Health Award as well as numerous other awards and recognitions. He is also the author or co-author of over 40 scientific publications and reports. Dr. Langer is a member of the board of directors for the National Association of Federal Veterinarians, and he previously served in leadership roles for the American Association of Public Health Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association. He resides in the Atlanta area with his wife, three cats, and three very spoiled dogs.

Uniformed Service Representatives

Wanda Egbe is a Commander in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, deeply committed to advancing the mission of NAFV and eager to contribute my experience and expertise to support our community of federally employed veterinarians. My career has been dedicated to the enhancement of veterinary services in public health, emergency response, and national security. I serve as the Chief Veterinary Officer and Program Director for the National Veterinary Response Team (NVRT) at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), providing primary advisory and technical expertise on veterinary medicine, zoonotic diseases, and One Health practices. This expertise has directly influenced international, national, and community emergency preparedness and response systems, underscoring the significance of our work in safeguarding public health. I have directed the strategic vision, policy formulation, and coordinated activities for the NVRT, managing a substantial $2 million budget for the 125-member team.

LTC Marc Knobbe is an Army Fellow in the office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense Integration and Defense Support of Civil Authorities. LTC Knobbe serves as a Subject Matter Expert to support public health, animal health, medical preparedness and response, Western Hemisphere, and global health matters related to Department of Defense policies, strategies, and programs. LTC Knobbe is a graduate of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, received a Master of Public Health from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in Health Security at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. As the military representative for the National Association of Federal Veterinarians Board of Directors, I will continue developing communication channels between interagency veterinarians that support public health practice. Additionally, I want to promote public health practice as a professionally rewarding career path that promotes lifelong education, work-life balance, and public service.

Other Agencies Representative

As the Regional Administrator for the Mid-Atlantic Office, Food and Nutrition Service, Dr. Patty Bennett provides leadership for 16 domestic nutrition assistance programs in six states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Benefit and administrative funds for the Mid-Atlantic Region nutrition programs exceed $12 billion and reach close to 30 million people each month. Before coming to FNS, Dr. Bennett was the Director of the Marketing Order and Agreement Division in USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service overseeing and supporting 27 agricultural commodities through the federal structure of marketing orders. Prior to that, she served in several key leadership roles in USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service where she worked closely with her teams to improve program operations and enhance customer service.

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