JACKSON – Township Councilman Barry Calogero has been named the new state executive director of the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA).
The Trump Administration made the appointment and Calogero joined the New Jersey FSA team on Nov. 27, according to a press release which stated that Calogero brings more than 30 years of financial experience across various domestic and international operations.
Speaking about his new position on Dec. 13, he said, “I am thrilled. It is such a great opportunity to work for a person and a group of people who have such an important part to play in the state and in the country.”
Calogero will keep his seat on the Township Council because Jackson has a nonpartisan municipal government in which residents do not run for office under the banner of a political party.
Calogero said the FSA’s mission is “to do the right thing and help feed everyone” and said his job “is to reach out to farmers to see how we can help them, to see what programs they need and to make sure the programs that are available are explained to them and given to them,” he said.
Calogero previously worked as a senior vice president at ConvergEx Group, as the managing director of operation at HSBC Securities Inc. and at Baring Securities.
He said that about six weeks ago he was asked to consider a presidential appointment and said, “sure, OK,” not thinking anything would come of the conversation.
However, “one evening I got a phone call from the White House (and) I almost hung up thinking it was a prank call, but fortunately through the grace of God I answered the call and they offered me the position,” Calogero said.
Calogero said he was asked if he “would like to serve as a member of the Executive Branch of the federal government at the pleasure of President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue.”
“You do not get those kind of calls too often in your lifetime. You see them on television, you hear about them, but to get one like that, how do you say no?
“They explained the position to me, they explained that the overwhelming criteria they liked in my resume was the fact I had 30 years of executive management skills.
“I talked it over with my family and they told me to go with my heart. How could I give up an opportunity to serve the President, the Secretary of Agriculture and all the farmers of New Jersey?” Calogero said.
The FSA serves farmers, ranchers and agricultural partners through the delivery of agricultural programs, according to the press release.
Calogero said he will work with state and county committee members to administer FSA programs, manage a budget, oversee personnel operations, and handle public affairs and governmental relations, among other duties.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Calogero will oversee FSA programs in a customer-focused manner to ensure a safe, affordable, abundant and nutritious food supply for consumers.
“It is thrilling, again, to have the opportunity to go to a job that has such an effect on so many people, not only in the state, but across the country. Our exports from New Jersey are tremendous,” Calogero said, before adding that “if working for the President and the Secretary of Agriculture did not seal it, working 25 minutes away from home was a deal closer.”
