Bettina Ring

Bettina Kay Ring (born October 16, 1963) is an American agricultural expert who served as Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry under Governor Ralph Northam from 2018 to 2022. She previously served as the Virginia State Forester under Governor Terry McAuliffe from 2014 to 2018.

Background Ring graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Forestry and Wildlife in 1986. She went onto join the Virginia Department of Forestry, where she initially worked as an area forester. Early in her career, Ring did work in Greene County and northwestern Albemarle County. In 2001, she earned a Master of Business Administration from James Madison University. The same year, she left the Department of Forestry, having attained the rank of Deputy State Forester during her fourteen-year tenure there. During her tenure as State Forester, Ring also led the National Association of State Foresters' legislative committee.