Mark Rey

Mark E. Rey joined The Livingston Group after eight years as the nation’s Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Mr. Rey brings expertise from both Capitol Hill and the private sector, holding the position as senior staff at the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. As he teams with The Livingston Group, Mr. Rey will continue teaching undergraduate and graduate students at Michigan State University as an Executive in Residence. As USDA Under Secretary, Mr. Rey oversaw the programs for the U.S. Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service. The agencies within this mission area managed the 192 million acre National Forest System as well as conservation projects on 210 million acres of farm and ranch lands, they employed nearly 45,000 full-time personnel and administered a budget of nearly eight billion dollars Serving on Capitol Hill for the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Rey was responsible for drafting legislation, organizing over 100 legislative and oversight hearings, coordinating media relations, counseling committee members and other Senate and House members and staff, along with working with executive branch officials. In the private sector, Mr. Rey held the position of Vice President for the American Forest and Paper Association and the Executive Director of the American Forest Resource Alliance. Responsibilities included program development, legislative and legal advocacy, membership growth, supervising the start-up of a grass roots organization representing forest product industry and non-industrial forest landowners. Mr. Rey earned several degrees from the University of Michigan, including a Masters of Science in Natural Resources and Administration; Bachelor of Science in Forestry; and Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management. University of Michigan, Masters of Science (Natural Resources and Administration); Bachelor of Science (Forestry); Bachelor of Science (Wildlife Management)