Janie Hipp, CEO of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) and member of the Chickasaw Nation, has been nominated to serve as the general counsel of the Department of Agriculture. If confirmed, Hipp would be the first Native American woman to serve as a general counsel in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She was among three agency nominees announced by President Joseph Biden on Wednesday.

“Janie Hipp brings over 30 years of experience to this position,” Dr. Joe Hiller (Oglala Lakota), vice chair of the NAAF Board of Trustees, said in a statement. “If confirmed … she will be the most senior Native person to serve USDA in its 159-year history. We are confident that Janie will do an incredible job, not only for Indian Country but for the entire country.”