Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler recently promoted Dr. Michael P. Martin to serve as State Veterinarian. Martin previously served as Poultry Section Head for the Veterinary Division since 2017. Martin started in his new role on Aug. 1, replacing outgoing and retiring state vet Dr. Doug Meckes.

"In my new role as state veterinarian, I consider preparing for African Swine Fever as a top priority. One of North Carolina's most important agricultural sectors is the swine industry, and it could be devastated by this disease. We must remain vigilant and biosecure to prevent its introduction into our state," Martin said.

Martin is a 1997 graduate from the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California at Davis. He also completed a Masters of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in 1999. In 2012, Martin became an associate professor at North Carolina State University and served in that capacity until 2017 when he joined the department.