Jim Barham

James Barham, PhD, is the Acting Chief Data Officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development. He also serves as the USDA RD’s Director, Data Analytics Division, Innovation Center.

USDA Rural Development helps improve the economy and quality of life for Americans in rural areas. Through its loan and grant programs, RD is among the largest banks in the country and is often considered the “World Bank” of rural America due to its investments in critical infrastructure, rural business support, and housing.