Willliam Fleet

William Fleet is the executive director of the nonprofit National FFA Foundation, which secures funding and support for agricultural education and the National FFA Organization. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., the foundation's goals are to "make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education."

Prior to joining the foundation this year, Fleet was interim chief operating officer for the National FFA Organization and consulted for several other agriculture-related groups. During his tenure with FFA, he made significant improvements to its structure, operations, leadership and program development through strategy and execution.

Previously, Fleet worked for 24 years at DuPont Crop Protection/Pioneer Hi-Bred International of Johnston, Iowa. While serving as Illinois North sales manager, he increased sales by 81 percent in one of four major corn-production areas in the United States. As vice president for North America sales, he restructured the organization of sales in his division, leading to double-digit margin growth from 1995 to 2005.

Fleet is recognized as a leader in the U.S. agriculture industry, serving in a variety of capacities at the national, state and local levels. He has served on the boards of directors of the York County Chamber of Commerce and the Princeton Chamber of Commerce, as chairman and treasurer of the York County Conservation District, and as director of the Pennsylvania Young Farmers Association.

He has been honored with numerous awards, including the Pioneer Hi Bred International Circle of Excellence Award in 1995, the Honorary American FFA Degree in 2006, and the prestigious National FFA "VIP" award in 2009.

Fleet received his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Science and his master's in Agricultural Education -- both with minors in Agronomy -- from Penn State. He received additional executive management education at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, at the University of Chicago and at Purdue University.

A member of the Penn State Alumni Association, Fleet resides in Lititz with his wife, Michele.