Annette M. Jones
Director, Animal Health and Food Safety Services
Dr. Annette Jones graduated with honors from UC Davis with a degree in economics and worked as a business manager for a defense contractor and an engineering firm for the first eight years of her career, after which she returned to UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, and again graduated at the top of her class.
After practicing as a private veterinarian for three years, she joined the California Department of Food and Agriculture in 2001. She participated in California's foot and mouth disease prevention and preparedness efforts in 2001, avian influenza control and eradication in 2002, and Exotic Newcastle disease eradication in 2002 and 2003.
She consistently demonstrated an ability to work cooperatively with other government agencies, the public, and industry as seen during emergency animal disease planning efforts at the local, state, and federal level. Dr. Jones showed her willingness to accept challenge during the response to Exotic Newcastle disease in Southern California, where she was the Incident Commander and Area Commander for the State. The response involved multiple local, state, and federal agencies with up to 1,500 people on the ground at one time.
On July 1, 2004, Dr. Jones was appointed Director of the Animal Health and Food Safety Services Division. In this capacity, she oversees an annual budget of $45.5 million and 222 employees engaged in programs for animal health, milk and dairy food safety, meat and poultry inspection, and livestock identification. She also works closely with the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, which is operated by UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, under a contract with her Division.
In this capacity, she has implemented organizational changes to meet the demands of shrinking budgets yet remain effective in the most critical mission areas; was part of the management team for several disease outbreaks and food and feed contamination events; provided radio and television interviews in support of farmers and ranchers and the work done to maintain a vibrant and safe food supply; collaborated with federal, state and local agencies; and provided testimony at several legislative sessions.
In September of 2010, besides continuing to perform as Director, Dr. Jones was appointed California State Veterinarian, the position ultimately responsible for the state's veterinary authority on animal health and food safety related to livestock and poultry.
