Utah Commissioner of Agriculture and Food, Cary G. Peterson, today announced the appointment of Dr. Chris Crnich as Director of the Division of Regulatory Services. Dr. Crnich, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, is currently the Manager of the Division of Animal Industry's Meat and Poultry Inspection program.

"Dr. Crnich has distinguished himself as a highly organized and motivated leader in our department," said Commissioner Peterson. "As the new director of Regulatory Services, he brings those skills that earned him one of the Governor's "Manager of the Year" awards for the State of Utah," Peterson added. Dr. Crnich's appointment takes affect immediately.

Regulatory Services is responsible for several important consumer-oriented programs such as Food Compliance; Meat, Egg and Poultry Compliance; Dairy Compliance; Weights and Measures; and Labeling and Product Compliance.

"I am extremely honored and thrilled to have been selected for this new and challenging assignment," said Dr. Crnich. "I look forward to working with the many dedicated and professional individuals in Regulatory Services," he added.

Dr. Crnich manages the department's meat and poultry inspection program that has earned the rare U.S. Department of Agriculture Category I status. This program serves as a model for other states.
Since 1982 Dr. Crnich has been the U.S. Air Force's Chief of Military Public Health for the 419th Medical Squadron at Hill Air Force Base. As such, he has gained much experience and knowledge in the field of medical intelligence and disaster preparedness, and participates directly in the department's homeland security and public safety responsibilities. This military/public safety background contributed greatly to the department's successful food safety program during the 2002 Winter Olympics.

He has improved his staff's computer literacy, as well as internal communications that add to the program's efficiency.

His management style focuses on the well being of his employees. Dr. Crnich went out of his way to locate a training tutor to assist an employee who had a reading impairment. As a result, this employee has significantly increased his oral reading skills as well as his self-confidence.

Dr. Crnich graduated from the University of Utah with a B.A. degree in Biology. He earned a D.V.M. in General Veterinary Medicine and Surgery from Colorado State University. He was the Air Force Reserve's Public Health Officer from 1999 to March of 2002, and has been the manager of the department's Meat and Poultry Inspection Program since 1999.

Dr. Crnich fills the vacancy created in April of 2002 when former Regulatory Services Director, Kyle Stephens, was named department Deputy Commissioner.