of the Farm Service Agency, Mr. Ducheneaux will provide leadership and direction on agricultural policy, administering credit and loan programs, and managing conservation, commodity, disaster and farm marketing programs through a national network of offices. In addition to his duties as Administrator, Zach currently serves on the board of directors for Project H3LP!, a nonprofit founded by his family to benefit his local community by providing life lessons and therapy through horsemanship. Heather Dawn Thompson (Cheyenne River Sioux), Director Office of Tribal Relations (OTR) – Ms. Thompson has worked in Indian law and policy for two decades, most recently in private practice. She has also served as law clerk with the Attorney General’s Office for the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, as Counsel and Policy Advisor to the U.S. Senate’s Democratic Policy Committee, and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for South Dakota’s Indian Country Section, where she prosecuted cases involving violence against women and children. USDA has restored the Office of Tribal Relations back to directly advising the Secretary, which will better ensure that maintain nation-to-nation relationships in recognition of tribal sovereignty and to ensure that meaningful tribal consultation is standard practice across the Department. Army Corps of Engineers Jaime Pinkham (Nez Perce), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (Appointed) – Mr. Pinkham previously served as the Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and has two decades of experience advocating for tribal sovereignty, self- determination and treaty rights. He is chairman emeritus for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society and past president of the Intertribal Timber Council. As principal deputy assistant secretary, Pinkham helps guide the civil works program, which guides the agency’s water resource development on issues related to flood control, hydroelectric power, water supply, fish and wildlife habitat restoration, and related ecosystems management. Department of Transportation Arlando Teller (Navajo Nation), Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs – Prior to this appointment, Mr. Teller served as a Representative within the Arizona State Legislature. He brings an additional 9 years of experience with the Navajo Division of Transportation, serving as Deputy Division Director before departing. Mr. Teller’s goals within this role are to improve, reengage and improve the relationship building with tribes, prioritizing Tribes that have minimal or no connections with the DOT. Department of Energy Wahleah Johns (Navajo Nation), Senior Advisor for the Office of Indian Energy – Prior to the role at OIE, Ms. Johns co-founded Native Renewables, a nonprofit that builds renewable energy tribal capacity while addressing energy access. Her work with the Black Mesa Water Coalition and Navajo Green Economy Coalition has led to groundbreaking legislative victories for groundwater protection, green jobs, and environmental justice. She is responsible for upholding and advancing the Office of Indian Energy’s mission to maximize the development and deployment of energy solutions for the benefit of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
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