Shannon McMurtrey

Shannon McMurtrey is the Senior Director of International Affairs for the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). In this role, she leads the development and execution of international trade programs and advances policies that enhance the global competitiveness of U.S. pork producers. She also collaborates closely with packers, processors, and trade associations to facilitate U.S. pork exports.

Shannon brings more than 30 years of experience in the federal government, including service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and as a congressional staffer. Most recently, she served as Senior Legislative Director at USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, where she monitored congressional activity related to the Farm Bill, annual appropriations, and key legislative initiatives impacting U.S. agricultural trade, food aid, and USDA’s global capacity-building efforts.

From 2014 to 2021, Shannon was Deputy Assistant Administrator for International Coordination at USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, leading international market access negotiations for U.S. pork.

A native of Idaho, Shannon pursued a Master of Arts in Comparative Regional Studies (Europe) from American University and holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and German from Idaho State University. She has also completed graduate-level coursework at the Institute of World Politics, focusing on international security topics including weapons proliferation, immigration policy, and intelligence policy.