Dr. Charles E. Kome, Ph.D
Special Guest
Soil Scientist, Leader and Coordinator, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA/NRCS)
Dr. Charles E. Kome is an internationally recognized soil scientist and environmental leader with over three decades of experience in sustainable land management, agricultural research, international development, and conservation science. He currently serves as a senior Soil Scientist and Program Coordinator at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), where he leads high-impact global initiatives including the Cacao for Peace project in Colombia and the Haiti Soil Survey and Natural Resources Conservation Initiative.
Dr. Kome holds a Ph.D. in Crops and Soil Science from Michigan State University, with additional specialization in International Development and Environmental Soil Science. He has led international collaborations across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, partnering with institutions such as USAID, CIAT, Peace Corps, and numerous universities. His leadership has resulted in over $30 million in secured project funding and the development of cutting-edge soil information systems and GIS-based cacao suitability maps.
Previously, he served as Associate Peace Corps Director for Environmental Programs in Gabon, where he established the nation's first Environmental Education Program and contributed to the creation of 13 national parks. He is also a former Assistant Professor at the University of Louisiana, where he secured nearly $1 million in grants for water quality and environmental research.
Fluent in both English and French, Dr. Kome is a passionate educator and mentor who has trained hundreds of professionals and students globally. His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the USDA Secretary of Agriculture Honor Award, multiple Superior Performance Ratings, and the Global Agronomy Community Leadership designation by the American Society of Agronomy.
Dr. Kome continues to advance environmental resilience, food security, and sustainable development through science-based solutions and strategic partnerships worldwide.