VERNON TOWNSHIP — More than 20 years removed from his childhood days as a Saegertown resident, Doug McKalip has yet to loosen the grip on his Crawford County roots.

Even though he’s spent more than a year rubbing elbows with President Barack Obama as the Senior Policy Advisor for Rural Affairs at the White House since February 2011, McKalip never loses sight of where he came. McKalip handles national issues related to agriculture, food production, forestry and fisheries. He also works on rural issues related to education, health care and veterans in rural areas, always with western Pennsylvania in mind.

“As I provide my opinion on issues, hopefully I can do so with that perspective that western Pennsylvania gives me,” McKalip said. “I think Crawford County is one of the most beautiful places in America, with hard-working people. To go to bat for people I grew up with gets me very excited every day.”

McKalip, 41, was one of three people to interview for his current position. He said that he normally doesn’t get frazzled, but upon sitting and waiting for the interview next to a champion boxer and military members who were set to see the president, the butterflies began to flutter.

“I was very thrilled to get the opportunity to work at the White House,” McKalip said. “It was pretty nerve-racking when I went over to the West Wing. ... I looked to my right and left, and I started to get a little nervous.”

McKalip works in person with Obama a few times a month. Last summer, just a few months into his time on the job, McKalip joined Obama on a rural summit in Iowa in which they traveled through the Midwest by bus.

“I see him quite regularly, certainly at a weekly basis, and sometimes I’ll travel with him,” McKalip said.



’89 Saegertown grad

A 1989 Saegertown High School graduate, McKalip grew up close to French Creek. He played baseball, basketball and hockey in his youth before embarking on his first governmental job as the SHS student council president his senior year.

He was also president of the school’s Key Club and was among a group of students who participated in Hi-Q, an academic competition similar to Jeopardy.

Former Saegertown teacher Judy Bedford, who was one of the coaches for the school’s Hi-Q team, said that the title of the 1989 SHS yearbook read: “Dare To Be Different.”

“I would say that he dared to make a difference,” Bedford said. “I can remember he was very energetic and very ambitious.”

He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was named the president of the Political Science Honor Society and was appointed to a fellowship with U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in 1992.

His interest in governmental work grew after working with Specter, so he went on to spend his next few years in Washington, D.C., where he graduated from American University with a master’s in public policy.

McKalip is a career employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture since 1994. He began temping with the department while he was studying at American.

His start at the USDA was as confidential assistant to Secretary Tom Vilsack, who is a Pittsburgh native.

Since becoming the senior policy adviser for rural affairs, McKalip and Vice President Joe Biden visited Erie and toured western Pennsylvania to launch the administration’s initiatives for high-speed broadband internet access in rural areas.

McKalip also took Vilsack to Hank’s Frozen Custard near Conneaut Lake to introduce him to some local rural community members.

“It’s exciting because you see so many opportunities for Crawford County and northwestern Pennsylvania and I see him (Obama) making so much progress,” McKalip said. “It’s exciting for me coming from a small town and to be able to affect policies and affect others around the nation.”

Keeping McKalip busy as of late has been the worsening drought conditions throughout the country. McKalip said he is actively working hard to mitigate negative impacts to farmers and help them through this situation.

McKalip still has family in the area, including grandmother Margaret Prince, a lifelong resident of Saegertown, and grandmother Louise McKalip, a lifelong resident of the Conneaut Lake area. He also has many cousins, aunts and uncles throughout the Crawford and Mercer county areas, including cousin Lyle Hoovler, who is a township supervisor for Sadsbury Township.

McKalip said he reads the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and visits The Meadville Tribune’s website every day. He and his wife Debbie are raising two children in northwest Washington, D.C.

As for his sports allegiances? McKalip may be a D.C. resident, but he doesn’t forget his western Pennsylvania origins.

“Our children have been raised as Pittsburgh fans, so they have Terrible Towels,” McKalip said. “Our household is sort of an embassy for western Pennsylvania sports.”



Dan Walk can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at dwalk@meadvilletribune.com.