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Welcome to the Pacific West Area

With 47 research units at 21 locations and several additional worksites throughout eight states, the Pacific West Area (PWA) is the largest and most diverse of the eight Areas in ARS.

 

There are 375 scientist positions in PWA and total workforce of about 1,400 employees.  

Research in PWA is conducted in 21 of the 22 ARS National Programs and addresses all five REE research priorities:

 

1) Climate Change,

2) Food Safety,

3) Children's Nutrition / Health,

4) Global Food Security, and

5) Bioenergy

 

Total base funding for PWA research projects is $160 million (net to location).   Base funds are augmented by about $16 million in trust, reimbursable, interagency and CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) funds direct to ARS; and about $4 million of in kind support.

PWA MapTuscon, AZPhoenix, AZRiverside, CAShafter, CAWestern Regional Research CenterParlier, CASalinas, CAPlant Gene Expression CenterOffice of the DirectorDavis, CABurns, ORCorvallis, ORPendleton, ORDubois, IDAberdeen, IDKimberly, IDBoise, IDPullman, WAProsser, WAWapato, WAWenatchee, WAHilo, HIFairbanks, AKReno, NVParma, ID WorksiteManoa, HI WorksiteSeattle, WA WorksiteNewport, OR Worksite

Technology transfer partnerships with the private sector and university researchers are a key aspect of stakeholder relations with PWA. 

Intellectual property and technology transfer activities in PWA include over 30 active CRADAs, over 80 issued patents, over 60 pending patent applications and 65 active licenses.

PWA Directors

Dr. Andrew C. Hammond is the Area Director; 

Dr. Robert L. Matteri is the Associate Area Director; 

Dr. Maureen Whalen is the Assistant Area Director; and

Jeffrey M. Van Houten is the Deputy Area Director for Business Management.

 

This PWA leadership team is responsible for overseeing implementation of the ARS research projects throughout the Area; ensuring high quality of science, efficient use of resources, and performance with impact.