Joseph Abbott

Chief Human Capital Officer Food Safety and Inspection Service, USDA

Joseph T. Abbott is an HR professional with over thirty-five years of human resources experience and currently serves as the Chief Human Capital Officer for the US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), as part of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Joseph joined the Federal Government in 1994, after ten years of military service in the US Army working in both aviation and personnel management assignments. From 1994 - 2000, he served as a Labor and Employee Relations (LER) Specialist with US Customs in their Chicago, Detroit, and Washington DC offices. From 2000 – 2003, he served with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a senior Labor Relations Specialist. From 2003-2009, Joseph served with the newly formed US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as the Director, Field LER Services as well as Director, National Recruitment and Deputy Director for HR Operations, Programs, and Policy. After one year with NOAA’s Workforce Management as Director Client Services, Joseph served from 2010 – 2013 as the Director of HR Operations with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security. In 2013, Joseph joined FSIS and served as Director, LER Division. Later in July 2014 was promoted to his current position as Chief Human Capital Officer. He is a 1984 graduate of LaSalle University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He completed the Senior Executive Fellows program and the Leadership In Crisis Executive program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, as well as completing the OPM Federal Executive Institute program. His military honors include the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal. He is married to Anja (nee Bauer), resides in Damascus, MD. They have three children: Jonathan, Michael, and Anna. He is a Capricorn, and his favorite color is blue.