Tracey Forfa, J.D., a distinguished 30-year veteran of the agency, is the new director of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine.

Forfa has been acting in the position since December 2022, when previous director Dr. Steven Solomon retired from federal service. She has been with CVM since 2002 and was appointed the deputy center director in 2008. She also previously served as acting director in 2016.

“After a robust recruitment and interview process, I’m pleased to announce Tracey’s selection as center director,” said Commissioner Robert Califf. “I know she will continue to apply the center’s guiding principles: protecting public health; regulating based on the best evidence and science; leveraging and collaboration; operating transparently; continuous quality improvement; and strong stakeholder engagement.”

Forfa is the first non-veterinarian to hold the CVM directorship. However, as recently determined by Commissioner Califf, when the center director is not a veterinarian, the agency soon will name a chief veterinary officer to advise on a wide variety of veterinary issues.

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) applauded the FDA’s announcement. Upon hearing the news, AFIA’s President and CEO Constance Cullman issued the following statement:

“We congratulate Tracey Forfa for her new role as center director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, a program charged with ensuring safe animal food, animal drugs and veterinary medical devices are brought to the marketplace. With her rich, 30-year history at the FDA, we have no doubt that her knowledge of the animal food industry will serve the agency well as it looks to modernize its regulatory processes to keep up with scientific advances in animal nutrition and help the United States regain its global competitive edge.”

With its planned reorganization of the food program, Cullman said the FDA is “at a critical juncture.”

Forfa will be the effective leader Commissioner Robert Califf and the animal food industry needs to ensure the unique products the CVM regulates are properly addressed, she stated.