Scott Blackwood joined the APHIS-PPQ Plants for Planting Policy team in December 2023 as a Senior Risk Manager and National Seed Health Coordinator. Scott came to this position with a background in research entomology, biocontrol, invasive species survey, and import regulatory issues. Most recently, Scott served as a National Operations Manager with APHIS-PPQ Field Operations covering a diversity of import regulatory matters and compliance programs. This work included national management of the Canadian agricultural and vegetable seed cleaning program, supporting Customs and Border Protection with regulation, sampling, and clearance of seed shipments at ports of entry, and audit testing of imported tomato and pepper seed shipments for quarantine pathogens.