rof. Dr. Tim R. Gottwald received his B.S in Botany in 1975 and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Oregon State University in 1979. He joined the USDA in 1979 and has served as the Research Leader of Plant Pathology since 2000. Dr. Gottwald is continually consulted on epidemiology and sampling designs on a wide range of pathogens and pests by state, national and international regulatory agencies and institutions with collaborations spanning over 39 countries. His findings have both driven and significantly changed eradication programs in the U.S. and abroad. He is a Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society, and his more than 20 awards include: the USDA Secretary of Agriculture’s Honor Awards in 2002 and 2009.