John Padalino

John Padalino

Acting Administrator
RUS

John Charles Padalino was named Acting Administrator of the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS), a Rural Development agency, September 16, 2012. Mr. Padalino's appointment follows his role as acting administrator for USDA Rural Development's Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS). Before coming to RBS, John served as the Acting Principal Deputy General Counsel for the Office of General Counsel and as Chief of Staff for USDA Rural Development Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager.

Mr. Padalino holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law. In his professional career, John practiced law in El Paso, Texas, where he represented rural water districts, litigated complex commercial cases, and briefed cases before the appellate courts of Texas and the United States Courts of Appeal. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Padalino worked in the water and wastewater industry.

RUS, the successor to the Rural Electrification Administration, has funded rural electric cooperative utilities since its creation May 11, 1935. Currently, RUS has over $60 billion in assets under management to finance electric, telecommunications and water and wastewater utilities serving rural areas nationwide.