The Department of Agriculture has appointed Alfred V. Almanza as administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Almanza served most recently as manager of the Dallas district, which includes more than 350 federally inspected establishments.

A Texas native, Almanza joined FSIS in 1978. He also has served in the positions of slaughter inspector, labor relations specialist, special assistant to the district manager, and deputy district manager.

Mike Johanns, agriculture secretary, said Almanza has a record of recruiting and training the most qualified individuals to improve the safety of FSIS-regulated products. Johanns added that Almanza does not hesitate to take swift and strong regulatory action to protect public health.

Almanza succeeds Dr. Barbara Masters, who departed in January for a position as a policy analyst with a law firm. David P. Goldman, MD, served as acting administrator of FSIS. The agency is the nation's largest employer of veterinarians.