Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced the appointment of 26 members to serve on the Task Force for Agricultural Air Quality Research. Among the newly appointed members, who will serve terms of up to two years beginning January 4, 2021, and ending in 2023, is Mr. James A. Vaughn of Forsyth, Georgia. Mr. Vaughn is a former Chairman of the Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition and Middle Georgia Regional Commission, and he currently serves as Chairman of the Central Georgia Joint Development Authority. In these roles, he has been instrumental in initiating, developing, and negotiating a 128 MWAC solar array around Robins AFB, making Robins AFB the most energy-resilient installation in the United States Air Force.

Mr. Vaughn is an accomplished leader in both the governance and economy of the region. He operates a diversified farm that maintains a herd of 400 Black Angus cows on 800 acres of improved pasture, farms 250 acres of Bermuda hay, 100 acres of forage crops, and manages 4000 acres of timberland. Mr. Vaughn was named the Georgia Farmer of the Year in 2018 and the National Friend of Conservation for the National Association of Conservation Districts in 2019. He is also a practicing partner in the law firm of Vaughn, Wright, and Boyer, LLP.

Mr. Vaughn is the only Georgian to be selected for this opportunity. Members of the Task Force will examine relevant issues and research related to agriculture’s effects on air quality, particulate matter and other pertinent topics, including greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration and bioenergy. The Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition nominated Mr. James A. Vaughn to serve on the USDA Task Force on Agricultural Air Quality Research in partnership with the Georgia Forestry Association and Georgia Cattlemen’s Association.