Derek I. Sandison was appointed Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) director in June 2015, where he continues to strengthen both Washington's food and agriculture systems nationally and internationally. In the agriculture industry and beyond, he applies a solution-oriented approach to issues. Along with serving as director of WSDA, Derek currently serves on the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Executive Board as the Second Vice President. He is also the immediate past president for the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA). A lifelong Washington resident, Sandison has worked in the private and public sectors for over 49 years. Before his appointment with the WSDA, he served as director of the state's Office of Columbia River (OCR) within the Department of Ecology between 2008 and 2015. During that time, he developed and laid the groundwork for the future development of new largescale water projects for cities, farms, and fish.  Prior to his service with OCR, he was the Central Regional Director for the Department of Ecology. Sandison has a Master of Science in natural resource management and a bachelor’s degree in biological science, both from Central Washington University.