Lexington, KY – John Long, Chief Executive Officer of the United States Equestrian Federation, announced today that Walter Herd will join the USEF as Director of Special Projects, effective September 4.

A graduate of Centre College in Danville, KY, and a native of Louisville, KY, Herd recently retired from the United States Army as a Special Forces Colonel after 24 years in a variety of management and leadership positions. His responsibilities included commanding Special Forces units, ranging from a 12-man "A-Team", to the 4,000-man, seven-nation Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in Afghanistan during 2003-2004. He has served in over 25 nations.

“The broad range of Walter’s career experience and education in the areas of strategic planning, leadership and problem solving will find a welcome home at the USEF. His principal assignment will be as the USEF liaison to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2010, focusing on planning and logistics. I am looking forward to working with Walter in the years ahead and for the USEF to capitalize on his impressive skills,” said Long.

“We could not be more pleased than to have Walter’s experience and expertise in planning and logistics available to us, and to be able to link our needs with the USEF’s. We realize the importance of merging our joint interests and know they will be best achieved with Walter’s assistance,” said Jack Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of the World Games 2010 Foundation.

"I'm proud to join the USEF as we work to continue the successes of our sport across the country and also as we focus on creating a great World Equestrian Games, something that every Kentuckian, every American and every horsemen can be proud of,” said Herd. “My family and I are very proud to return home to Kentucky. Having served all over the globe, I can say that Dorothy was right when she said, 'There is no place like home.'"

Herd and his wife, Anne, have two daughters, Caty and Hannah, and are in the process of building a home in Simpsonville, KY, on the farm they have owned there for the past 20 years. He is an avid foxhunter and rides with the Long Run Hunt in Simpsonville.