Brian McDowell has been appointed as the new Director of Laboratory Services for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF). Rejoining the team where his career began, McDowell is expected to bring a wealth of knowledge back to the department from his recent private sector experience.
As reported by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Secretary of Agriculture, Blayne Arthur said "I am pleased to welcome Brian back to our team in this new capacity." McDowell, who started with ODAFF in 2003 as a microbiologist in the Inorganics Lab, advanced to Supervisor and Laboratory Evaluation Officer in the Dairy and Food Safety Section by 2012.
Furthering his career, McDowell left ODAFF in 2016 and joined Cytovance Biologics, where he enhanced his skills and eventually led the Quality Control Microbiology Section. The expertise garnered from the private sector continued to refine his prowess, playing a pivotal role in his next position as the Quality Assurance and Quality Control Manager at the Oklahoma State Department of Health – Public Health Laboratory (OSDH-PHL).
"My goal is to help lead the laboratory in its growth and the continuous improvement of our vital work," McDowell said in a statement obtained by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Secretary of Agriculture. The division's core mission is to ensure the quality of agricultural products, protect the environment, and confirm the safety of dairy products by accurately testing submitted samples.
