Methodological Problems by
Survey to measure coverage of the census of
2004 to 2007—bore similar responsibilities.
Way of Agricultural Statistics agriculture produced from a list frame. When
In both positions, I was on the operating
The U.S. government has historically
a position as director of the division managing
board of the organization with responsi-
supported the production of agricultural
agricultural surveys became vacant, I was
bility for the statistical and survey meth-
statistics in two of its statistical agencies.
selected to lead that program. One of my pri-
odology, research, and statistical standards
The census of agriculture had been con-
mary accomplishments was to redesign the
of the organization. However, my scope
ducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and its
collection of data on chemical and pesticide
of responsibility was larger at ONS, as it
predecessor agencies since 1840. Statistics
use, cost of production, resource manage-
included employment, expenditure sur-
on agriculture production and prices, as
ment, and economic aspects of farm pro-
veys, and national accounts, along with
well as on the economic, environmental,
duction into the Agricultural and Resource
programs analogous to those conducted at
and resource management of farm opera-
Management Survey.
the U.S. Census Bureau.
tions, have been produced by NASS. In
My experience in agricultural statistics
Both positions involved development
1997, the census of agriculture program
enabled me to learn first hand about the pro-
of research programs to meet future needs,
was transferred to NASS.
duction of agricultural statistics, the differ-
performance of service to the production
In 1983, I accepted a research position
ences between conducting a census and a sur-
areas of the organization, post-application
working on the census of agriculture at the
vey, and the issues relevant to the collection
evaluation of programs, and the develop-
bureau. This was my first experience devel-
of both economic and household statistics.
ment of standards for the production of
oping a research program in a production
Both economic and household survey meth-
official statistics. One of the most important
environment. I had the fortunate experi-
odology and procedures are in play as the sci-
aspects of both positions was management
ence of working with Donny Rothwell on a
ence of statistics is applied to agriculture.
of the people who staffed these functions
research contract. Rothwell introduced me
and relationships with others interested
to the world of survey methodology as we
Management and Leadership in the problems of official statistics. This
collaborated on the design and execution of
of Research Programs for entailed attracting, hiring, developing, and
a major test of the census. The results of the
Official Statistics
retaining individuals who had the statisti-
test led to a post-census research agenda, a The two positions I have held during the
cal, computing, and survey methodology
precursor to other large-scale research pro- last 11 years—associate director for meth-
skills needed to move these programs for-
grams I directed. odology and standards at the U.S. Census
ward. It involved working with academics
During this period, the bureau worked Bureau from 1996 to 2004 and executive
in various university departments, con-
closely with NASS to use the June Area director for methodology at ONS from
tracting with survey research organizations
that had different skills or resources, and
interacting with professional advisory com-
mittees. Interchanges with colleagues from
other national statistics organizations, both
in the United States and abroad, became
more important as international atten-
tion was drawn to many of the problems
of official statistics. Many of my personal
opportunities arose through these external
interactions—including the opportunity to
work in the United Kingdom.
Leading a U.S. Statistical Office
I was appointed administrator of NASS in
June 2008 and have now embarked on lead-
ing the third-largest U.S. statistical agency.
I am here because I have great confidence
in the organization—the quality of the
staff is high, the management is solid, the
organizational culture is strong, the level of
customer service is high. There is a solid
foundation on which to build. I have been
given the challenge of leading the organiza-
tion to a new level of performance. I feel
certain that, with the excellent management
team now in place, this will be an attain-
able objective. I have learned much from
working with different management and
leadership teams and feel ready to address
the challenges ahead. I look forward to this
new opportunity. n
40
AMSTAT NEWS OCTOBER 2008
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