baxley served as the managing partner of baxley property advisors, llc before holding the titles of consulting services director and the senior real estate technical consultant with rsm us llp's financial advisory services consulting practice. he eventually rose to become administrator of usda rural development's rural housing service. in 2019, he was by sec. sonny perdue to replace assistant to the secretary for rural development anne hazlett, who was named the senior adviser at the white house office of national drug control policy.