Stephen Alexander Vaden (born May 15, 1982) is an American lawyer who has served as the United States deputy secretary of agriculture since July 2025. He served as a United States judge of the United States Court of International Trade from December 2020 until taking office as deputy secretary in July 2025.
Stephen Alexander Vaden
United States Court of International Trade
Born 1982 in Memphis, TN
FJC ID: 9215661
- Gender
- Male
- Race
- White
Prior employment
- U.S. Department of AgricultureDeputy secretary · 2025–present
- U.S. Department of Agriculture2017–2020
- ↳senior advisor to the Office of General Counsel · 2017
- ↳principal deputy general counsel · 2017–2018
- ↳general counsel · 2018–2020
- Private practice, Washington, D.C.2011–2017
Law clerk , Hon. Samuel H. Mays · 2009–2010
Law clerk , Hon. Julia Smith Gibbons · 2008–2009
Appointments
2020–2025 · Appointed by Donald J. Trump (Republican)Term ended: Resignation
Education
J.D. · 2008- Vanderbilt UniversityB.A. · 2004