Stephen Beam

Dr. Beam has acquired over 23 years of experience managing activities of complex statewide agricultural programs at CDFA, serving as the supervisor of the Commercial Feed, Fertilizer and Livestock Drug Program, and for over 20 years as Chief of the Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch where he managed all aspects of the statewide inspection program for dairy farms and milk products in California. His work has involved years of working closely with industry stakeholders on complex issues, as well as proven cooperation with local, state, and federal partners to respond to food safety incidents. During his tenure, he has represented CDFA in many national leadership roles, including, but not limited to, the federal-state cooperative program of the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS), where he served as Chair of the Executive Board for 10 years.

He continues to serve on the NCIMS Scientific Advisory Committee and is the current Chair of the NCIMS Liaison Committee that works with FDA to bridge complex governance and policy matters between FDA and the states in the national Grade-A milk safety program.

Dr. Beam earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in animal science from the University of Nevada-Reno, and his Ph.D. in animal science from Cornell University, conducting research primarily in dairy cattle. This was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Animal Science at UC-Davis before joining CDFA in 1999.