Pearlie Reed
Agriculture Department Assistant Secretary for Administration Pearlie Reed retired June 1, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today.

Reed, a longtime civil servant who was chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service during the Clinton administration, returned to government service when President Barack Obama took office.

He lead several civil rights efforts at USDA and has played a role in what Vilsack calls the cultural transformation effort currently under way.

The secretary said he had encouraged Reed to stay in his position, but that Reed wished to retire "for personal reasons."

Vilsack said he hopes to name an acting assistant secretary for administration soon.