President Joe Biden has appointed former Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke to serve as administrator of the Rural Utilities Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Throughout his career, Andy has demonstrated a clear and constant vision to improve the lives of rural Americans,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release announcing the appointment. “Andy’s advocacy for better services, safer streets and improved infrastructure makes him an inspired choice for the role of Rural Utilities Service administrator. I look forward to his continued leadership at USDA.”
According to its website, the agency provides needed infrastructure and infrastructure improvements in rural communities, including water and waste treatment, electric power and telecommunications services.
Berke most recently served as a special representative for broadband at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
He was Chattanooga’s mayor from 2013-2021 and during that time helped establish a program to expand free high-speed internet service to families with children on free or reduced price lunch. His administration also launched efforts to reduce poverty, improve aging infrastructure and increase clean energy use, the department said in a news release.
Berke was a state senator in the Tennessee General Assembly from 2007-2012, sitting on the Senate transportation and education committees. He also served as a law clerk for the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and as a legislative assistant to former U.S. House Rep. Bart Gordon.
Additionally, Berke has been a partner at urban planning and consulting firm Cityfi and a special advisor to the chancellor of Vanderbilt University. He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his juris doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School.
— Compiled by David Floyd