- H. Russell Cross
- Senior Professor, Meat Science
- Office:
- KLCT 432C
- Email:
- hrussell.cross@ag.tamu.edu
- Phone:
- 979-862-1705
- Undergraduate Education
- B.S. in Animal Science, University of Florida
- Graduate Education
- M.S. in Animal Science, University of Florida
- Ph.D. in Animal Science, Texas A&M University
- Awards
- American Society of Animal Science National Meat Research Award, 1983
- President of the American Meat Science Association, 1982-1983
- Progressive Farmer, Man of the Year Award, 1989
- Distinguished Research Award, American Meat Science Association, 1990
- Signal Service Award, American Meat Science Association, 1992
- Forbes Award, National Meat Association, 1996
- Distinguished Service Award, U.S. Meat Export Federation, 1998
- R. C. Pollock Award, American Meat Science Association, 1999
- Hall of Fame Recipient, International Stockmen’s Education Foundation, 2002
- Meat Industry Hall of Fame Inductee, 2009
- Listed in the top 50 "Beef Industry Leaders," 2013
- Carl R. Fellers Award IFT, 2014
Dr. H. Russell Cross has more than 40 years of management experience, holding numerous positions in government, academia, and the private sector. Dr. Cross currently holds the position of Professor and Head in the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. He most recently served as Executive Vice President for Operations and Chief of Staff to President Elsa Murano. Prior to that appointment, he served as Deputy Vice Chancellor and Associate Dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.
In the academic environment, Dr. Cross was Head of Texas A&M’s Department of Animal Science and the Meat and Muscle Biology Section and holder of the E.M. “Manny” Rosenthal Chair in Meat Science. Additionally, Dr. Cross was the founding director of Texas A&M’s Institute of Food Science and Engineering.
His service in government included the role of Administrator of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service under Presidents Bush (41) and Clinton. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service comprised over 10,000 employees with a budget of $600M. At the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., (largest animal research center in the world), Dr. Cross served as USDA’s Research Leader within the Meat Research Group.
Dr. Cross also pioneered the International HACCP Alliance, serving as its founder and Executive Director. The International HACCP Alliance represents 24 food associations, 40 universities and the governments of 13 countries.
Within the private sector, Dr. Cross was the CEO and Chairman of Future Beef Operations, L.L.C. Furthermore, he served as Director of Food Safety for IDEXX Laboratories. Within National Beef Packing Co, Dr. Cross served as Executive Vice President of Food Safety/Government and Industry Affairs. In addition, he was Vice President of DuPont Food Industry Solutions.
Dr. Cross is published extensively, with over 235 published works on meat quality and safety. He resides in College Station, Texas, with his wife Elaine Cross.