Dr. Jack Shere was appointed Deputy Administrator in March 2016 and leads the program’s many employees in protecting and improving the health, quality, and marketability of U.S. agricultural animals, animal products, and veterinary biologics. He also oversees VS’ national and international reference laboratory network.
Dr. Shere joined VS in 1990 as a field veterinary medical officer in Nebraska and Wisconsin and has held many leadership positions since then, including Associate Western Regional Director from 2002 to 2005 and Eastern Regional Director from 2005 to 2013. More recently, Dr. Shere served as VS’ Associate Deputy Administrator since 2013.
Dr. Shere has extensive experience with animal disease outbreaks, including salmonella enteritidis, foot-and-mouth disease in England, low pathogenic avian influenza, Exotic Newcastle Disease (END), and highly pathogenic avian influenza. During the extensive 2002-2003 END outbreak in California, Texas, New Mexico, and Utah, Dr. Shere served as the Joint Area Commander and Incident Commander, leading a massive federal and state eradication effort for nine months until the disease was eradicated from the United States.
Dr. Shere received a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry in 1981, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1987, and a Master of Science in Education with a minor in Counseling in 1988 – all from Iowa State University. He received PhD’s in Poultry Science and Microbiology in 2001 from the University of Wisconsin. He also practiced veterinary clinical medicine for 3 years in Georgia.