Charles Franklin Conner (born December 30, 1957) is a former United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. He was sworn in on May 2, 2005, by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns. After Johanns resigned on September 20, 2007, Conner was named acting secretary.[1] He served as Acting Secretary of Agriculture until President Bush's nominee, former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 28, 2008.