Scott Adkins

Laboratory Director
Horticultural Research Laboratory
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
 

A native Marylander, Scott Adkins earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees at Ohio State, and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He joined USDA-ARS at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory (USHRL) in Fort Pierce, Florida in 1999 as a Research Plant Pathologist and built an outstanding emerging vegetable and ornamental virus research program. Adkins distinguished himself by assembling and leading teams to describe the novel cause of viral watermelon vine decline and the first interspecies tospovirus reassortant, and by addressing regular requests to unravel diseases of uncertain etiology. His scientific enthusiasm has attracted numerous aspiring scientists to his laboratory including many undergraduate students. Simultaneously, Adkins served in major American Phytopathological Society (APS) leadership roles, most notably chairing scientific program committees for the 2018 International Congress of Plant Pathology and the APS annual meeting for six years. Throughout his career, Adkins has made fundamental advances in tospovirus gene function and viral RNA synthesis, while developing and extending real-world applications to growers, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders.

Adkins was appointed Acting Research Leader of the Subtropical Plant Pathology Research Unit at USHRL in April 2020. He served in that position until being selected as Research Leader and Supervisory Plant Pathologist in February 2022 for this same unit. From September-December 2022 and again April-June 2023 Adkins served as Acting Laboratory Director for USHRL until being selected as Laboratory Director in September 2023. In this role, he continues to expand the horticultural research mission of USHRL and implement addition of a warm water marine aquaculture research unit.

Arminda Damara

Program Analyst
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
 

Arminda K. Damara has 25 years of federal service spanning three agencies: Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Transportation—the first agency includes traveling the country as a civilian to train military personnel on a new, web‐based pay system and public speaking engagements with the United States Coast Guard Chiefs Academy, the second agency involved training the VA National Call Center for our nation’s Veterans, speaking to an auditorium filled with 500 people, and creating over 100 job aids for colleagues, the third agency includes being the genesis of national in‐service trainings for Program Analysts. She has been awarded two FMCSA Administrator Annual Awards (2017 and 2024). Arminda participated in the Partnership for Public Service / Preparing to Lead Program, where she delivered a graduating speech and completed the Key Executive Leadership Programs / Aspiring Leader Program. Arminda is a graduate of Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. In her personal time, Arminda is a certified yoga instructor, board member of the Saturday Night Literary Club with esteemed professionals in the local region, social organizer for multiple community groups, founded a thriving local dining group, loves the sport of orienteering, and plays in the Prairie Winds Flute Choir for regional music performances. She is actively working to become a professional public speaker to help men, women, and children work through adverse human life experiences and become empowered individuals. 

Dionne Toombs

Associate Director Programs National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Dr. Toombs is a highly accomplished and skilled senior executive leader with a vast knowledge of and over 20 years of experience with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Throughout her career, she has made significant contributions to the Department's agricultural research, education, and Extension mission while serving in various leadership roles. She is the Associate Director for Programs at USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant funding agency for agricultural research, education, and Extension programs. In this role, Dr. Toombs provides leadership and strategic direction for the organization's multifaceted science programs. These programs are designed to generate and disseminate innovative knowledge that advances the agriculture, environmental stewardship, and the promotion of human health and well-being across communities nationwide. Her leadership facilitates the seamless integration of research, education, and extension endeavors throughout the extensive Land-Grant University system and fosters collaborative partnerships with diverse organizations within the United States and globally. As the administrator of a comprehensive portfolio of extramural research, education, and extension grants, Dr. Toombs ensures that the NIFA addresses the pressing needs of agricultural stakeholders, including farmers, ranchers, and producers.

Previously she served as the Director of the USDA Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) and Acting NIFA Director. As OCS director, she provided scientific leadership, identified key science issues and needs, and coordinated and prioritized USDA's science efforts. Dr. Toombs led and coordinated major departmental initiatives and activities to strengthen science and science leadership, improve national coordination, and enhance outreach and awareness of agricultural challenges.

As Acting NIFA Director, Dr. Toombs oversaw and funded 80 programs totaling $2.2 billion, covering broad areas of agriculture-related science that integrated research, education, and Extension across the country. She successfully led the rebuilding of NIFA's workforce, managing an unprecedented budget and implementing new programs through various federal initiatives. Dr. Toombs' leadership has been instrumental in developing a succession plan, ensuring a high-performing and diverse workforce, and completing the hiring of 342 employees, a 30% increase from the previous year. She relaunched NIFA's Mentoring Program to improve recruitment, retention, and career development opportunities, fostering a pipeline for succession planning. Dr. Toombs has been repeatedly featured as one of USDA’s most impactful woman scientists and recognized by the Secretary of Agriculture for outstanding leadership. Throughout her career, Dr. Toombs has helped her colleagues, staff, and students maximize their potential by bolstering their talents and developing their leadership skills. Always willing to champion the next generation of scientists, she often emphasizes the importance of relationship building, citing collaboration as a key to her success.

Dr. Toombs earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Howard University, her Master of Science degree in Food Science from Alabama A&M University, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Bethune-Cookman University.

She enjoys spending time with family, Pilates, participating in community service projects with her sorority, and learning how to play golf.

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