As Assistant Chief Information Officer (ACIO) for the Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) Mission Area, Darren Ash directs the vision “to deliver modern, customer-focused IT solutions that meet the needs of the Mission Area employees, farmers, ranchers, and producers of America.”

Darren Ash was selected to serve as the ACIO for the FPAC mission area Agency in April 2018. As ACIO, he leads and sets the strategic direction for information technology while working in partnership with agency and FPAC Business Center leadership, and with other USDA agencies to provide information resources for policy and decision making. In this position, he is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the IT programs, providing guidance and oversight to technology and business system’s modernization projects as well as development and acquisition of new information technology systems and services. Darren Ash’s former positions include serving as the CIO for the Farm Service Agency, CIO of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and Associate CIO at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Darren started his Federal career with the Internal Revenue Service and then moved to the Department of Treasury, prior to serving at the Department of Transportation.

A native of California, he received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from The American University, a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University and a Master of Science in Information Systems Technology. He and his family reside in Potomac, Maryland.