Dr. Duane Norman in the Department of Dairy and Animal Science at Penn State.

   H. Duane Norman, Ph.D., supervisory research geneticist with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, has been named the 2009 Dairy Science Distinguished Alumnus by the Department of Dairy and Animal Science at the Pennsylvania State University. He will be recognized at a departmental ceremony on Friday afternoon, Nov. 20.

   Norman is known throughout the world for his leadership in the genetic evaluation for traits of economic importance for the U.S. dairy industry, and for the enormous positive economic impact these advances in genetic merit have had over the last 25 years.

   Having grown up on a registered Jersey farm in Liberty, PA, Norman was active in 4-H and FFA, and attended both the National 4-H Club Conference and National 4-H Club Congress. As an undergraduate at Penn State, he was president of Campus 4-H, vice-president of the Dairy Science Club, editor of the Dairyman, and a member of the dairy cattle judging team. He received the Davey Award, presented to the outstanding senior in dairy science.

   He received his B.S. from Penn State in 1964 and his M.S. in dairy breeding in 1967. He earned his Ph.D. in dairy breeding from Cornell University in 1970.

   Norman said, “It is a real honor to receive this recognition from the Department of Dairy and Animal Science at Penn State. I am proud of what this Department and their students have achieved in recent years. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with dairy folks on a local, national, and international basis; still the bottom line remains, if you love what you do, it’s really not work.” 

   Dr. Terry Etherton, Head of the Department of Dairy and Animal Science, said, “Dr. Norman’s leadership in increasing the production efficiency of dairy cattle has had a tremendous economic influence on dairy farmers across the country and throughout the world. I offer my congratulations on this recognition of his many contributions, and speak for the dairy industry in thanking him for having such a dramatic and long-lasting impact.”

   Norman joined ARS in 1970 as a geneticist, and for the last 21 years has been research leader of the Animal Improvement Programs Laboratory, where he oversees the genetics research program and the calculation of genetic evaluations for the U.S. Dairy Industry. He has developed methods which have led to genetic improvement of yield and fitness traits, thereby increasing the efficiency of milk production worldwide. Under his leadership, the evaluations have moved to complex evaluation of yield, fitness and health traits, including conformation, longevity, fertility, calving ease, stillbirth and mastitis resistance. Recent emphasis has been on genomics. Specifically, his impact on industry programs has contributed to a rate of genetic improvement for milk yield of 1.5 percent per year over the past 25 years.

   Among the recognitions he has received are: the Polish Ministry of Agriculture’s Decoration of Order of Merit in Agriculture in 1986; the American Jersey Cattle Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 1990; the National Association of Animal Breeders’ Research Award in 1993; the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) J.L. Lush Award in Animal Breeding and Genetics in 1995; Penn State Dairymen’s Club Service Award in 1996; National DHIA Outstanding Service Award, 1999; ADSA Fellow, 2001; Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences’ Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2003; and ADSA’s Land O’Lakes Award in 2007.

   His laboratory received the USDA Distinguished Service Unit Award in 1991, a National DHIA Award of Special Recognition in 1991, Government Executive magazine’s Government Technology Leadership Award in 1998 and a Vice Presidential Hammer Award in 2000.

   Widely published with papers and abstracts in scientific journal papers, trade publications and proceedings, his research is cited frequently in editorial pages and textbooks. He has made over 350 presentations at state, national and international meetings, and has served on 70 industry committees.

   He was a director of National Dairy Shrine for nine years, serving as president in 2003 and received its Guest of Honor Award in 2007. A volunteer 4-H leader for 25 years, he served 10 years as organizational leader of the Fulton 4-H Club. He has coached both county and state 4-H dairy bowl teams.

   Norman is married to Roslyn Waring with whom he has three daughters, Kathryn, Jill and Diane. They reside in Fulton, MD.