John Albert Knebel (born October 4, 1936) is a former United States government official who served as secretary of agriculture under President Gerald Ford.

[1] Between 1965 and 1968 he was engaged in private practice with the firm of Howrey, Simon, Baker and Murchison in Washington, DC.

[1] He was a legislative assistant to Congressman J. Ernest Wharton in 1963 and 1964 and served as general counsel to the Small Business Administration during Nixon's second term.

[1] He was a partner in the law firm of Brownstein, Zeidman, Schomer and Chase from April until December 1975, when he was named the deputy secretary of agriculture.

[1] On November 4, 1976, Knebel was named secretary of agriculture by President Gerald Ford.