1.  Appointment.  The Governor shall appoint the commissioner, subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agriculture, conservation and forestry matters and confirmation by the Senate. The commissioner, who must be a person of recognized executive ability and who must possess training, knowledge or experience in agricultural production, conservation, forestry and natural resource management, serves at the pleasure of the Governor.  

2.  Deputies; staff. 

2-A.  Deputy; staff.  The commissioner shall appoint a deputy commissioner to assist the commissioner with the operations of the department. The commissioner shall also appoint a natural resource marketing and economic development specialist, who shall assist the commissioner in the identification and tracking of natural resource industry trends, who shall work with natural resource groups to identify value-added opportunities and who shall coordinate with other governmental agencies to help management to improve the sustainability of the State's agricultural resources and the long-term health of the State's agricultural, forestry and natural resource-based industries.  

3.  Vacancy; commissioner.  A vacancy in the office of the commissioner must be filled as follows.