Luis Hernandez, USDA-NRCS, Regional Director, Northeast Soil Survey Region

Luis possesses a public service career of 35 years that include posts with the U.S. Forest Service (International Institute of Tropical Forestry) and Natural Resources Conservation Service. He has served on multiple state, regional, and national leadership positions. Recently he served as the Acting Director of the NRCS International Programs Division. Currently he’s serving as the NRCS-SPSD Northeast Soil Survey Regional Director in Amherst, MA. Internationally, he has completed near 50 short-term foreign assignments building capacity and transferring technology in Latin America and Europe. He’s graduated of the NRCS National Leadership Program and USDA Senior Executive Candidate Development Program. He’s native of Morovis, Puerto Rico, and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science from Kansas State University and Master’s Degree in Soil Science from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez Campus. He’s also graduated of the Key Executive Leadership Certificate Program from American University in Washington, DC.

Luis is recipient of the following national awards: USDA Secretary’s Honor Award, USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Honor Award, National Cooperative Soil Survey Career Achievement Award, NRCS Chief’s Civil Rights Award, NRCS Chief’s Workforce Diversity Civil Rights Award, NRCS Chief’s Team/Group Civil Rights Award, NRCS Hispanic Emphasis Program Manager of the Year, and the National Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS Employees (NOPHNRCSE) Award of Excellence in Natural Resources Conservation.