Lisa Charpilloz Hanson

Lisa Charpilloz Hanson is the new director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture.

Gov. Tina Kotek announced her appointment Oct. 11.

Charpilloz Hanson, currently executive director of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, was the deputy director of ODA for 15 years before that.

“Lisa Charpilloz Hanson brings decades of experience working with natural resource communities to meet the needs of Oregonians across the state. I look forward to seeing her great work and leadership at the agency,” Kotek said in announcing the appointment.

“It is an honor to return to the Department of Agriculture and serve Oregonians,” Charpilloz Hanson said. “Oregon’s diverse agricultural and food sectors have changing needs in our changing environment. I am excited to work with the team at the department to enhance the natural environment and the value of working lands.”

The Oregon Senate will take up Charpilloz Hanson’s confirmation as permanent director in November and her anticipated start date is Dec. 1.

Agricultural groups applauded the choice of Charpilloz Hanson.

“We want somebody that knows the industry, someone that knows the agency and just as important, someone who knows Oregon. Lisa checks all those boxes,” said Greg Addington, executive director of the Oregon Farm Bureau.

Jeff Stone, Oregon Association of Nurseries executive director, said Charpilloz Hanson is trusted by the ag community and respected by conservationists and environmentalists.

“There’s a lot of big issues in ag, and you need a leader who can talk to all sides but also be able to carry out the mission the governor wants to carry out. Lisa is a person who can do that,” Stone added.

Tammy Dennee, executive director of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, said Charpilloz Hanson approaches leadership from a pragmatic, thoughtful position, listening and assisting in finding solutions to difficult situations.

Todd Nash, president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, said the appointment was great.

“We’re familiar with Lisa and she’s always been a trusted partner, easy to talk to, and we really appreciate an agency that feels like a full-on partner,” Nash added.

Charpilloz Hanson began her career in the food processing industry and joined ODA as the manager of its commodity commission program in 1996.

She served as the interim director of the ODA in 2016, between the terms of Katy Coba, who had led the agency since 2003, and Alexis Taylor, who stepped aside in 2022 after she was nominated as USDA undersecretary for agricultural affairs.

The ODA has been without a permanent leader since Taylor’s departure.

Charpilloz Hanson left ODA when she was appointed director of OWEB in 2021.

In 2018, Charpilloz Hanson won the James A. Graham Award for outstanding service to agriculture from the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

The award recognized her “leadership in highly controversial natural resources issues, participation in successful trade policy development and missions and productive relationships with federal and state agencies.”

This story has been updated.