John E. Lee, Jr. has influenced the agricultural economics profession through innovative leadership of the largest group of agricultural economists in the world. He provides inspiration and support for a wide range of activities of the American Agricultural Economics Association, effectively links work of agricultural economists in and out of the Economic Research Service with national policy making, aggressively advocates the importance of funding social science research and education in government councils, and champions the need for publicly employed economists to serve the common good by assuring widespread access to the information needed for enlightened public and private decision making.

John Lee has devoted his career to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. Starting as an agricultural economist working on production adjustment problems, he quickly gained the confidence of his colleagues and supervisors. In turn, he accepted increasingly important responsibilities as chief of the Agricultural Finance Branch, director of four divisions, and, then in 1981, administrator of the Economic Research Service.

The premise guiding John Lees professional career is that an informed public, aware of the full consequences of alternative courses of action will most likely assure that the agricultural and rural economies perform in the interests of the larger society. In that context, he argues that agricultural economists have special responsibilities to analyze implications of alternative public policies, technologies, and course of action and to make these implications "transparent" to policy makers and the public.

Lees commitment to excellence parallels his commitment to present unbiased research results in the face of controversy. The dual emphasis on excellence and independence has vastly increased the demand for and influence of Erases work.

Lees championing of research excellence and relevancy is mirrored by his support of professional activities including those of the American Agricultural Economics Association, the International Agricultural Trade Research Consortium, Resources for the Future, and the Great Plains Agricultural Council for Food and Agricultural Sciences and is an articulate spokesman in that Council and in USDA for the rural social sciences.

John Lee maintains a strong interest in education. He is a member of the General Administrative Board of the USDA Graduate School, serves on the boards Executive Committee, chairs the graduate School Futures Committee, and teaches a popular class in agricultural policy.

John Lee's commitment to public service, sustained professionalism, superb managerial skills, and innovative leadership account for his record tenure as administrator of the Economic Research Service and his success in enhancing the reputation of that agency in difficult times.