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Financial Secretary

Diane Gray
MIchigan


Diane Gray serves as the Assistant State Conservationist for Management and Strategy for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in East Lansing, Mich. She has over 34 years of experience with the USDA, starting as a clerk-typist with the Soil Conservation Service in Bourbonnais, Ill.

Gray was appointed to her current position in February of 2015. As Assistant State Conservationist for Management and Strategy she is responsible for integrating conservation strategy and financial planning, personnel, locally-based administrative services, and other resources to deliver the mission of the state, area and local field offices.  She also reviews the performance and accountability of conservation programs and operations.


Diane has served as Acting State Conservationist for Michigan, New Jersey and most recently for Maryland. Prior to her current position she served as State Administrative Officer. She has also served in Michigan as state budget officer, financial technician and area administrative coordinator. She served the first eight years of her USDA career in Illinois.


Gray served as Federal Women’s Program Manager and Black Emphasis Program Manager in both Illinois and Michigan and served as a member of the Civil Rights Committee for Michigan.  She is a member of the National Organization of Professional Black NRCS employees and serves as the Budget Committee Chairperson and currently serves as treasurer for the Michigan Chapter. 

In February of 2013, Gray completed the USDA Emerging Leadership Development Program.  She graduated from the USDA Midwest Leadership Development Program in April 2003. Gray earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Management in 1998 from Spring Arbor University.

A native of Kankakee, Ill., she is the seventh of nine children.  She has served as a member of the trustee board and served as church financial clerk at her church in Kankakee and she presently serves as a member of the trustee board at her church in Flint, Mich., where she currently resides.