Professional Affiliation

Associate Deputy Administrator for International and Emerging Issues, USDA APHIS Biotechnology Regulatory Services

Expert Bio

Ibrahim Shaqir has served as Associate Deputy Administrator of the Biotechnology Regulatory Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services of the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) since August 2016.  In this position, he provides leadership to ensure the safe development and introduction (importation, interstate movement, and field testing) of genetically engineered organisms.

 From 2009 to 2016, he was Director of the Office of International Research Programs within the Agricultural Research Service of USDA.  In that position, he led strategic international research engagement, directing that engagement through the Office of International Research Programs (OIRP). He also identified and evaluated management options that impacted execution of the Agency’s international program, taking measures to transparently manage funding overseen by his office. 

From February to July 2012, he was on a detail with the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) as an interagency professional-in-residence.  There he worked with the Institute’s Center of Innovation for Science, Technology and Peacebuilding on a National Academy-USIP Roundtable project adapting agricultural extension systems during peacebuilding and conflict management.

From 2001 to2008, he was a Senior International Affairs Specialist in OIRP, serving the ARS Associate Administrator in planning and managing international aspects of ARS National Research Programs.  Prior to that, he served as an International Affairs Specialist for the Middle East and North Africa, coordinating ARS programs and acting as the agency point-of-contact for the region to engage ARS researchers in bilateral and multilateral science and diplomacy efforts.  In the summer of 2007, he was selected as a Department of State Embassy Science Fellow where he served as the Acting Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) Officer at the U.S. Embassy, Tel Aviv.

He received his B.S. degree (International Environmental Studies; Environmental Business Economics) from Rutgers University and his Master's degree (International Finance) from the University of Maryland University College. He is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Fellows Program and the American University School of Public Affairs USDA Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.