Basil Gooden

Basil Ivanhoe Gooden is an American politician who served as the 3rd Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry under Governor Terry McAuliffe. He became the first African-American to serve in this position and during his tenure from September 2016 until January 2018, he was the only black Secretary of Agriculture in any state in the United States. In his capacity as Secretary, he worked to support Governor McAuliffe's mission of building a new Virginia economy in agriculture and forestry, two of Virginia's largest private industries with an annual economic impact of $91 billion on the Commonwealth.[1]

Basil Gooden
3rd Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry
In office
September 5, 2016 – January 13, 2018
GovernorTerry McAuliffe
Preceded byTodd Haymore
Succeeded byBettina Ring
Virginia State Director, USDA-Rural Development
In office
May 14, 2014 – September 1, 2016
PresidentBarack Obama
Preceded byEllen Davis
Succeeded byElizabeth Walker Green
Deputy Director, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
In office
May 22, 2002 – May 14, 2014
GovernorMark Warner
Tim Kaine
Bob McDonnell
Terry McAuliffe
Preceded byGlenn Oder
Succeeded byErik Johnston
Personal details
Born
Basil Ivanhoe Gooden

Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Spouse(s)Susan Michelle Tinsley
ResidenceHenrico County, Virginia
Alma materVirginia Tech (B.A.)
Syracuse University (M.S.W.)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (M.P.H., Ph.D.)

Prior to serving as Secretary, Gooden was appointed by then President Barack Obama to serve as the state director for USDA – Rural Development in Virginia. In that position, he served as the chief executive officer of this federal agency that allocated approximately $1.25 billion annually to improve the economy and quality of life in rural Virginians.

Gooden served for twelve years as the Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) in the administrations of four Virginia governors. He was initially appointed to this position by Governor Mark R. Warner and subsequently re-appointed and served in the administrations of Governors Timothy M. Kaine (D), Robert F. McDonnell (R), and Terry McAuliffe (D).[2][3]

Early and personal life

Gooden was born in Charlottesville, Virginia to Allen and Christine Gooden, one of seven children. He grew up in Buckingham County, Virginia where he and his family own and operate a cattle farm, raising Black Angus beef.[4] His family farm also participates in tree farming and land conservation efforts. His parents were long-time educators as his father was a school principal and his mother was a home economics teacher in the Buckingham County School system. As a youth, Basil was extremely involved in athletics and many Virginia Cooperative Extension related activities that focused on crop production, livestock, and 4-H activities.

Gooden graduated from Buckingham County High School and attended Virginia Tech where he received a B.A. in Political Science. He earned a Master of Social Work degree from Syracuse University in 1995. Additionally, he is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received a Master of Public Health and a Ph.D. in 1998. Gooden became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in 1984 at Virginia Tech.

Gooden married the former Susan Michelle Tinsley on June 12, 1993 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Dr. Susan Gooden is a professor of public policy at the Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. They have one daughter, Caper, who is a 2016 graduate of the College of William and Mary and is now pursuing a master's degree in the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University.

Governmental and economic development work

Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry

As Virginia's 3rd Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Gooden's top priorities were: (a) increasing economic opportunities in agriculture and forestry; and (b) advancing strategies for rural economic development. These strategies sought to increase the business capacity of farmers, producers and agribusiness as well as increasing Virginia's agricultural and forestry export opportunities to international markets. Under his leadership, the Secretariat worked to promote the economic viability of industrial hemp in Virginia.[5] Also, the Secretariat partnered with the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance, Secretariat of Technology and James Madison University to host the first ever Governor's “Smart Farm” Summit on December 12, 2017.

Gooden worked to expand international trade as a key component of increasing economic opportunities in the agriculture and forestry industries in Virginia. As Secretary, he traveled with Governor Terry McAuliffe on numerous trade/marketing missions visiting 17 countries and 23 cities abroad. A few of these countries include; Cuba, Japan, China, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Singapore, India, Switzerland, Canada and Mexico. He has met and worked with each member of VDACS’ global network of trade representatives from Canada, Mexico and Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, India, China, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development

In 2014, Dr. Gooden was appointed by then President Barack Obama to serve as the state director for USDA – Rural Development in Virginia. In that position, Dr. Gooden served as the chief executive officer of this federal agency that allocated approximately $1.25 billion annually to improve the economy and quality of life in rural Virginians. During his tenure at Rural Development, he restructured the agency's workforce, including hiring twenty-six (26) new employees, to improve program delivery, community outreach, and customer service. USDA-RD assists in building vibrant, sustainable communities by financing projects essential to improving the quality of life and environment. Through USDA-RD, funding is available for job creation, business development, essential community facilities, basic infrastructure and affordable housing. During his tenure as state director, USDA-RD invested more than $2.5 billion into housing, community and economic development projects throughout rural Virginia.

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development

Previously, Dr. Gooden served as the Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for twelve years. In that position, his primary administrative responsibilities included strategic management, technology advancement, and community development initiatives in economically distressed communities. Before DHCD, he worked at Virginia Tech where he served as the Coordinator of Outreach and Community Relations. Additionally, he worked with Virginia Cooperative Extension as an Extension Specialist where he designed and implemented a statewide research project to assess community issues impacting localities across Virginia. Some of his additional professional experiences include working as a Legislative Assistant to former Congressman L.F. Payne, Jr. (Fifth Congressional District of Virginia) and as a Legislative Aide to former United States Senator Charles S. Robb.

References
  1. [email protected]. "Ag-Forestry". ag-forestry.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  2. "Gooden new state secretary of agriculture and forestry | Richmond Free Press | Serving the African American Community in Richmond, VA". Richmond Free Press. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  3. "Basil I. Gooden selected as Virginia's next Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry &middot Industries". Virginia Business. 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  4. "Virginia Beef Industry Council - Basil Gooden". Virginia Beef Industry Council. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  5. County., Basil I. Gooden Gooden serves as Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry for Virginia and owns a cattle farm in Buckingham. "Gooden: Virginia working on industrial hemp". Roanoke Times. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
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