CDFA is proud to announce the appointment and promotion of two longstanding leaders in our Animal Health and Food Safety Services Division (AHFSS): Dr. Amanda “Mandy” Murray will begin the new year as California’s Acting State Veterinarian, and Dr. Stephen Beam will take the helm as Director of the division. Both have served Californians and the state’s livestock, poultry and dairy producers in progressive positions of leadership at CDFA.
“This transition in leadership takes us from strength to strength,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “I’m so proud of the depth of experience and expertise that we have built in our Animal Health office, and much of the credit for that goes to our retiring State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones. I look forward to working with Dr. Murray and Dr. Beam as they step forward into their new roles.”
Director of Animal Health and Food Safety Services Dr. Stephen Beam earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in animal science from the University of Nevada-Reno, and his Ph.D. in Physiology of Reproduction, Field of Animal Science from Cornell University. A postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Animal Science at UC Davis focused on livestock stem cell research. Dr. Beam has been with CDFA since 1999, managing complex statewide agricultural programs in both AHFSS and CDFA’s Division of Inspection Services. As Branch Chief of the Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch, he managed CDFA’s statewide inspection program for milk products in California for more than 20 years. His work with industry stakeholders and his cooperation with local, state, and federal partners in response to food safety incidents earned three Leveraging Collaboration Awards from the FDA. Dr. Beam has frequently been called upon to represent CDFA at the national level, leveraging his food safety expertise and ability to bridge complex governance and policy matters between federal agencies and states. His work has been critical on issues such as surveillance approaches for bird flu and nationwide testing plans for milk products to assure ongoing safety of the milk supply.
Acting State Veterinarian Dr. Amanda Murray has been with the AHFSS Animal Health Branch since 2017, first as a supervisor overseeing the Animal Disease Traceability and Secure Food Supply Programs before promoting to Assistant Branch Chief in 2021 and Branch Chief in 2023. Dr. Murray previously worked at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine’s Western Institute for Food Safety and Security, working closely with the FDA, USDA, and Department of Homeland Security, with a focus on food safety and animals during disasters. Dr. Murray grew up on a small farm in Marin County, realizing her love and passion for all animals and animal health. She holds a Master’s of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and a Ph.D. in Comparative Pathology and Epidemiology, and her public policy experience began as a science fellow in the California legislature. Throughout her career, Dr. Murray has focused on balancing science with practical solutions to tough problems.
Congratulations to both of our newly-appointed Animal Health leaders.