U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a new slate of presidential appointments to key positions at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Among those with Iowa connections are Doug Hoelscher of Williams and Starlyn Perdue of southwest Iowa. Hoelscher has been appointed minister-counselor to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organizations in Rome. He previously held roles as chief operating officer and chair of the America First Transition Project at the America First Policy Institute. Perdue will serve as state executive director for the Farm Service Agency in Iowa. Other appointments include Tate Bennett of Kentucky, who was named principal deputy chief of staff; Hailey Ghee of North Carolina as deputy chief of staff for operations; and Mireya Brogan of Texas as chief of staff for the Risk Management Agency.