Mel Blackwell, the Vice President of the Schools and Libraries Program (SLD) for USAC, will retire effective June 30, 2016.  Mr. Blackwell started with USAC in 1998. He was appointed acting Vice President of the SLD in July 2005, and later in 2006, USAC named him Vice President of the SLD. In addition to serving the Schools and Libraries Program, Mr. Blackwell also served as Vice President of the Rural Healthcare Program.