Donald A. Kautter, Jr. (Don) is a nationally recognized expert in food safety, regulatory compliance, and enforcement, with over 30 years of high-impact leadership at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As Senior Advisor and Consumer Safety Officer at FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (now Human Foods Program), Don was the senior regulatory and scientific authority on complex microbial contamination, environmental monitoring, intentional adulteration, and FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food. He provided decisive technical guidance and was the agency’s leading expert on critical enforcement actions, including warning letters, recalls, injunctions, suspensions, and compliance directives, ensuring that agency decisions were legally sound, scientifically justified, and effectively mitigate public health risks.

Beyond enforcement, Don has been a national leader in regulatory training – designing and delivering specialized programs that strengthened the capabilities of FDA and state inspectors, compliance officers, and investigators nationwide. His curricula have covered food safety microbiology, environmental monitoring, Current Good Manufacturing Practices, FSMA Preventive Controls for Human Food, and intentional adulteration, equipping regulatory and compliance staff with critical tools to execute sophisticated compliance and inspectional activities.

Holding an M.S. in Food Science and Technology (Food Microbiology) and a B.S. in Biology, Don’s expert contributions, published works, and leadership have left a lasting imprint on the national food safety system, reinforcing the integrity of the U.S. food supply through rigorous compliance oversight, preventive controls, and enforcement excellence.