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Appointee Directory View:   James Andrew -- Department of Agriculture Administrator, Rural Utilities Service James Andrew was appointed by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate unanimously as the 16th Administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, a mission area of Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture. Mr. Andrew comes to USDA with a strong background in business development and rural utility infrastructure. As the head of an agency charged with managing a $5.5 billion annual investment program in electric, water and telecommunication utilities across rural America, his leadership skills at national, state and local levels will serve him well. Mr. Andrew was born in Alabama and grew up in Geneva, Alabama. For the past 37 years, he and his wife have lived outside of Millen, Georgia. He has been a long time member of the Jefferson Energy Cooperative, has served on their board of directors, and as vice president and board chairman. Mr. Andrew held top posts at the Georgia EMC, the statewide trade association representing the 42 electric cooperative utilities in Georgia, including Oglethorpe Power Corp. and Georgia Transmission Corp. These electric cooperatives provide service to four million people, nearly half of Georgia's population, across 73 percent of the state's land area. Georgia's 42 electric membership cooperatives now serve more customers than any other state network of electric cooperatives in the nation. Mr. Andrew also served on the board of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation. Mr. Andrew has a further distinction among his peers: he is one of only three Georgians elected president of the NRECA board. As president, Mr. Andrew was instrumental in launching the Touchstone Energy national branding and marketing campaign. He helped revitalize education and training programs for co-op members. Mr. Andrew was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by Georgia EMC in 2003 and was named the 2004 Distinguished Cooperator in Georgia by the Georgia Cooperative Council. Mr. Andrew is a former small business owner, a financial consultant and worked in sales and management for an electrical distribution equipment manufacturer. He helped manage a family farm and is a graduate of the University of Alabama. Mr. Andrew and Mary, his wife of 41 years, have two children and spend their time between Millen, Georgia and Washington DC. 202-720-9540

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