Ric Dunkle joined ASTA in January, 2008 after a 35 year career in state and Federal government. His career began in California in 1973 with the California Department of Food and Agriculture as a field entomologist. Over the span of 7 years he established CDFA’s biological control, pest management, and environmental; monitoring programs. In 1981 he began his career with USDA, serving for 18 years in research and management/leadership with the Agricultural Research Service In 1999 he became Deputy Administrator of APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine until his retirement in 2008 where he oversaw USDA’s plant regulatory and trade programs related to phytosanitary. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Ph D from the University of California, Davis. With ASTA, Ric handles the phytosanitary issues associated with international seed movement and coordinates issues related to seed quality, testing, and research.