Patrick Atagi

As President and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC), Patrick Atagi leads a dynamic organization committed to providing high-quality networking opportunities and resources for its members and interested parties, spanning the entire industrial hemp value chain from farm to consumer. Under Atagi’s leadership, NIHC focuses on advancing market development and educating consumers about the diverse applications of industrial hemp.

Atagi brings a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors. He previously served under two U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture (Ann Veneman and Mike Johanns) at the USDA, where he held several influential roles, including Director of Native American Programs, Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Confidential Assistant to the Under Secretary. A political appointee under President George W. Bush, Atagi was later appointed by Secretary Perdue during the first Trump administration to the USDA Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Tobacco, Cotton, Peanuts, and Hemp.

In the private sector, Atagi has held key leadership roles with prominent organizations, including the International Fresh Produce Association, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), the World Chlorine Council (as Secretariat), and the American Chemistry Council.

In addition to his work at NIHC, Atagi serves as President and CEO of DA Farms, his family’s farming operation in Nyssa, Oregon. He is a highly skilled business development professional, holding degrees from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Maryland.