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After nearly 40 years, making a mark “not limited to the headquarters but also nationwide,” M. Farook Sait is leaving the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) a truly better place, officials and co-workers said at his retirement reception last month.

Emcee Josie Woodley-Jones said, “He wrote the civil rights program for the USDA…If you have any questions about civil rights, Farook is the person to know.”

In 1972, Sait began as special assistant to Director Jerome Schuman at the newly-established Office of Equal Opportunity. He served in many posts. In January 2011, he accepted the position of Civil Rights Division Director of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

In his remarks, a grateful Sait paid tribute to officials and colleagues. He quoted a famous cigarette commercial, saying, “We’ve come a long way.” He said, “Work and sex discrimination in the workplace is on the wane,” and diversity is part of the policy, with officials, “starting from Secretary Tom Vilsak, recognizing strength in diversity.”

The retirement reception took place on December 6, 2011, drawing over a hundred guests. Venue was the USDA Whitten Building Patio at the nation’s capital. Director of Civil Rights Curtiland DeVille of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture presented Sait with a plaque of appreciation, on behalf of the USDA Civil Rights Directors Council.

“Farook has civil rights in his blood and in his soul…He will be greatly missed,” said Administrator Alfred V. Almanza of the Food Safety and Inspection Service. He thanked Sait “for your public service.”

Testimonials and anecdotes were by turns serious and funny. Speakers included Associate General Counsel Arlean Leland of the Office of General Counsel; Director Carl-Martin Ruiz, Office of Adjudication, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; and Naomi Churchill-Earp, former Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

True Leadership

Sait has shown “true leadership” at the USDA and the community, said U.S. Rep, Judy Chu (D, CA). Congresswoman Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), presented him with a plaque “in recognition of your Outstanding Leadership and Service to the U.S.A.”

Sait, she said, has passion and vision. Sait championed scholarships for students, He raised “tremendous amount of funds” in his two terms as president of the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC). These include funds to recruit more Asian Pacific Americans in the USDA internship program. A total of 8,500 students across the nation take part in the yearly program.

Priscilla Baek, president of the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL), founded 23 years ago, said Sait “has been with us from the very beginning.” She called him “a great supporter, mentor and always a great friend.” She urged him to continue his support, echoing Congresswoman Chu, who said, “We need you more than ever in the community.”

Other community leaders who gave presentations were: FAPAC President Kin Wong; Neil Horikoshi, president of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund; Dr. Holly Hambley, executive director of the Organization of Professional Employees of the USDA; and Rashid Makdoom, president of the Muslim Community Center. Dr. Talari Jude of the FAPAC-USDA Chapter gave the welcome remarks.

Career

Sait came to the U.S. from India in 1963. He graduated from Washington Adventist University in 1967 and Howard University School of Law in 1971. In 1972, he began as Special Assistant to Director Schuman at the USDA Office of Equal Opportunity. He worked on USDA’s first Affirmative Action Plan, established the EEO Counselor structure and training program, developed policy and regulations and wrote the Title VI Compliance Program and Final Agency Decisions in the EEO program.

In 1975, he moved to work on the Compliance program. From 1979 to 1982, he worked in the Investigations Unit of program complaints.

Over the years, Farook worked with USDA agencies and the OGC “to strengthen and deliver systematic civil rights training at the state and local levels.” He also provided training to other federal agencies, including the Department of Justice. He also served as Acting Deputy Civil Rights Director at the Office of Small Business Administration, and helped restructured the office.

In 1994, Sait attended the Senior Executive Leadership Training Program at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. From 1995 to 2003, he served as Confidential Assistant to the director of the Office of Civil Rights. He was Special Counsel for the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights from 2003 to 2010. In January 2011, he became Civil Rights Division Director of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.