Effective March 1, 2025, Thomas J. Vilsack, former United States Secretary of Agriculture and Governor of Iowa, will become the first Chief Executive Officer for the World Food Prize Foundation. In this new role, Governor Vilsack will focus on expanding the Foundation’s global network, and will further position the Foundation as a leader in addressing global food and nutrition insecurity, continuing his lifetime of public service.
Governor Vilsack was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An orphan, he was adopted in 1951 by Bud and Dolly Vilsack. In 1972, he received a bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College in Clinton, New York. In 1975, he earned a law degree from Albany Law School.
Although a Pittsburgh native, Governor Vilsack has had a deep connection with Iowa for decades.
He and his wife Christie, an Iowa native, were married in 1973. They have two sons, two daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. Shortly after marriage, they settled in Christie’s hometown of Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
Governor Vilsack became an active member of the local community, participating in the Chamber of Commerce and United Way. He also helped fundraise for a youth athletic facility.
When the local mayor was killed, he took charge of raising funds for a memorial. When asked by the slain mayor’s father if he would run for the seat, Governor Vilsack stepped up and led, winning the Mayor’s race in 1987 and serving until 1992 when he was elected to the Iowa Senate.
In 1998, he became the first Democrat to be elected as the Governor of Iowa in more than 30 years. During his two terms as Governor, he created an $800 million, 10-year economic development incentive program—the Iowa Values Fund. His administration worked with schools, medical providers, businesses, faith-based organizations and other entities to expand healthcare coverage to more than 90,000 previously uninsured children.
Under his leadership, first as Senator and then as Governor, he collaborated with the legislature to develop Vision Iowa, a program that resulted in a $3 billion investment in cultural, educational and recreational facilities across the state. He worked to build a sustainable energy infrastructure, proving Iowa could fuel the nation, as well as feed it.
He became the 30th and 32nd United States Secretary of Agriculture, from 2008-2017 and 2021-2025, respectively. Only five people in U.S. history have served in the Cabinet longer, and during his tenures, the United States Department of Agriculture set records for U.S. agricultural exports and provided food assistance to millions of Americans. He helped expand food and nutrition access through summer feeding programs for children and additional support for fruit and vegetable purchases through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. As Secretary, he worked to develop new and superior markets for small and mid-sized farms, allowing those operations to remain viable and in turn, strengthening and growing rural communities.
Governor Vilsack has long been connected to the World Food Prize Foundation, having served on both the Council of Advisors and the Board of Directors. His insights and acumen were vital in shaping our mission and initiatives. His leadership and experience will be instrumental in expanding the Foundation’s international reach and continuing the mission of elevating innovations and inspiring action to sustainably increase the quality, quantity and availability of food for all.