Aaron Rhyner is a national leader in animal welfare policy, regulatory enforcement, and program management with more than a decade of experience advancing the humane treatment of animals through federal oversight and evidence-based policymaking. Throughout his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS), he has held progressively senior leadership positions overseeing enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act, including serving multiple terms as Acting Director of USDA Animal Care. In these roles, Aaron directed national animal welfare operations, led regulatory modernization efforts, developed enforcement policy, and collaborated extensively with Congress, federal agencies, industry stakeholders, researchers, and animal protection organizations. He chaired the multi-year interagency workgroup responsible for the most significant revisions to the Horse Protection Act regulations in decades and has served as the agency’s technical expert in administrative proceedings, regulatory development, and national policy initiatives. 

Most recently, Aaron served as a Supervisory Veterinary Medical Officer with USDA APHIS’ National Animal Health Monitoring System, where he led national animal health surveillance initiatives and research partnerships to strengthen disease preparedness, improve biosecurity, and inform federal policy. 

Aaron is a senior executive fellow of Harvard Kennedy School and earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His work is driven by a commitment to advancing practical, science-based solutions that improve animal welfare while strengthening public trust in regulatory systems.