Dr. Yilmaz Balci is the assistant director for the Plants for Planting Policy program in USDA-APHIS PPQ. His team of 14 develops import policies for all propagative plant material including establishing new markets and development of foreign plant production programs. His team also issues Federal Orders to address the risk posed by emerging pests and implementation of import requirements at ports-of-entry. Prior joining APHIS, Dr. Balci spent 15 years in academia at West Virginia University and at the University of Maryland where he built a plant pathology program. His research portfolio ranged from management of exotic diseases in forest, urban and nursery ecosystems to development of nursery certification programs. Dr. Balci’s formal education includes a PhD in Plant Pathology, a MSc in Botany and Mycology and a BSc in Forest Engineering.