National Biomass Initiative

William F. Hagy III
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Deputy Administrator for Business Programs

As Deputy Administrator, Mr. Hagy administers a combined loan and grant portfolio of over $6.5 billion. This is done through the organizational structure of three National Office Divisions with 43 employees and a nationwide field organization serving the 50 States, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Western Pacific Territories. Under his direction, authorities are administered for the Rural Development mission area. These include the Business and Industry Guaranteed and Direct Loan Programs, Intermediary Relending Program, Rural Business Opportunity Grant Program, Rural Business Enterprise Grant Program, the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Programs, Renewable Energy Systems/Energy Efficiency Improvements Program, Biomass Research and Development Grant.

Bill Hagy began his career with the Farmers Home Administration in June 1974 as a student trainee in Virginia. In July 1975, after graduating from Virginia Tech with a degree in Agricultural Engineering, he became an Assistant County Supervisor until 1978 when he became County Supervisor. In 1979 he transferred to the State Office as Community Programs Specialist and, in 1980, transferred to the District Office as an Assistant District Director. Mr. Hagy joined the National Office as Water and Waste Disposal Loan Specialist in 1982 and served until 1989 when he was assigned as Deputy Assistant Administrator, Financial Programs, for the newly created Rural Development Administration (RDA). Mr. Hagy was RDA Acting Assistant Administrator, Financial Programs, from January 4 until October 20, 1994. From then until September 30, 1995, due to pending reorganization of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Hagy was Acting Assistant Administrator, Financial Programs, for the Rural Business and Cooperative Development Service. On October 1, 1995, with implementation of the reorganization of USDA, Mr. Hagy was reassigned as Acting Deputy Administrator, Business Programs, for the Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS). He was appointed to the position of Deputy Administrator in July 1996. Mr. Hagy was acting Administrator of RBS from January 20 to August 12, 2001; since then, he has resumed his responsibilities as Deputy Administrator, Business Programs.