Brian S. Garner, Sr., was selected to serve as the Director of the Office of Civil Rights for the Farm Service Agency in March 2013.

He is responsible for providing leadership and direction in the development and implementation of civil rights policies, programs and procedures while managing equal employment opportunity issues, enforcing civil rights compliance and administering all fact-finding, investigative and resolution processes related to discrimination complaints.

Prior to coming to FSA, Garner served as Chief of the Program Investigations Division in the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, where he conducted civil rights complaint investigations throughout the United States. Before that, he worked as Chief of the Compliance and Program Analysis Branch for the Farm Service Agency, where he processed program complaints alleging discrimination.

Garner also served as the Supervisory Investigator for the Civil Right Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and enforced the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) and Police Misconduct.

A retired U.S. Marine, Garner spent 23 years serving his country as an instructor, recruiter, inspector and leader. The culmination of his military service resulted in the awarding of the Meritorious Service Medal for sustained exemplary performance.

Born and raised in Camden, N.J., Garner received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Regent College. He and his wife reside in Southern Maryland and have two adult children and four grandchildren.