A familiar face has taken a new position in agriculture research. Gregory Pate is now director of research operations for outlying units at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES). 

Pate has been director of E.V. Smith Research Center at Auburn University (AU) since 2008 and was formerly associate director. In this position, Pate oversaw research in the largest agricultural facility in Alabama. 

In this new role, Pate will coordinate and oversee innovative research projects that support agriculture and forestry conducted at all 15 AAES regional units. 

Pate holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in agronomy and soils from AU. He began his career as a gin manager for Milstead Farm Group.