Kyle Shipman takes helm as state veterinarian

INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Mike Braun announced Kyle Shipman as the new Indiana state veterinarian.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health named him successor to longtime veterinarian Bret Marsh, who is now the dean and CEO of Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Hospital.

The state veterinarian and board are charged with livestock contagious disease control, animal neglect investigations and meat, poultry and dairy inspections. They also help animal owners after large-scale disasters like floods and tornadoes.

Shipman will serve as chief administrative officer for the state’s two animal-focused boards:

• The Indiana State Board of Animal Health, which assists with state meat and poultry inspection, dairy inspection, animal health and care programs and disaster preparedness.

• The Indiana Board of Veterinary Medicine, which oversees professional licensing and registration and disciplinary action for veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians in Indiana.

“My goal is to continue to deliver the high standards of service that the citizens of Indiana and the veterinary profession have come to expect from our team,” said Shipman said in a news release.

“I look forward to meeting Hoosiers in their communities statewide and partnering with stakeholders to safeguard Indiana’s animals, citizens and food supply.”

Prior to this role, Shipman served as director of the Animal Programs Division at BOAH.

He was heavily involved in BOAH’s response to the highly pathogenic avian influenza case in Dubois County in 2016. He also led the response to bovine tuberculosis in southeastern Indiana.

Shipman is a U.S. Department of Agriculture-certified and trained foreign animal disease diagnostician. He traveled to Uganda in 2020 to learn how to diagnose and respond to cases of foot-and-mouth disease.