Dan Hunter
Assistant Commissioner
Texas Department of Agriculture
Dan Hunter serves as Assistant Commissioner for the Texas Department of Agriculture. He is the top advisor on the critical issues of the economy, trade, and water. He oversees matters on U.S. policy and the important role it plays in agriculture and the Texas economy. He also provides direct oversight on programs involving rural affairs, including rural health care and marketing. Hunter directs the International Marketing Programs for Texas Agriculture.
He currently serves on the Board of the Texas Wine Advisory Committee and the Texas Olive Oil Advisory Board. He also serves on the Ag Workers Insurance Advisory Board. Hunter has served on numerous international trade, commodity, policy advisory committees.
Hunter has an extensive background in agriculture, trade, research, water, and policy development. Prior to his current position he served as Executive Director of the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER) and an adjunct professor at Tarleton State University.
Prior to joining the Institute, he was the Executive Officer of the Southwestern Peanut Growers’ Association. Earlier in his professional career he served as the Government Relations Representative for the National Cotton Council association in Washington, DC. He also worked as a primary legislative staff member for former Congressmen Larry Combest and Fred Grandy.
Hunter received degrees from Texas Tech University, where he was recently honored as Outstanding Alumnus, Tarleton State University, and Western Texas College. He has written numerous articles for several publications, and provided testimony for legislative and regulatory committees. Additionally, he has given presentations around the world including the United Nations Foreign Agriculture Organization in Rome. Hunter has conducted business as an official U.S. and Texas Representative, and for private companies on every continent except Antarctica.
