Arlington, Va. – The Food Industry Association (FMI) has appointed Jessica Tanner as Director of Legal Operations. In this role, Tanner will advise FMI on legal operations, regulatory strategy and policy, and will work with FMI counsel, the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI), and FMI leadership to ensure compliance with regulations and governing bodies.
Tanner will help manage FMI’s legal operations framework, monitor regulatory and policy developments, and advise leadership on legal implications for the food industry.
FMI Chief Regulatory Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Harris stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Jessica to FMI’s legal and regulatory affairs team, and we look forward to the contributions she will bring to FMI as we proactively advocate on regulatory developments of importance to the food industry. Her extensive experience working in government on complex legal issues will bring a deep knowledge to our work on regulatory and legal matters that impact our members and their ability to best serve their customers.”
Tanner previously served as senior counsel for the U.S. Agency for International Development, where she handled legal issues tied to vaccine donations, managed oversight inquiries, and supported disease outbreak response. She has also served as an attorney at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and worked as a law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Virginia Supreme Court, and the Alexandria Circuit Court.
She holds a juris doctorate from Washington & Lee University and a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University.
