Amanda Lefton testifies through the Senate Power and Pure Assets Committee when she was director of the Bureau of Ocean Power Administration on Thursday, Might 13, 2021. (Photograph By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name, Inc by way of Getty Photos)
Amanda Lefton, a Queens native who grew up on Lengthy Island and now lives upstate together with her spouse, has been tapped as commissioner of the New York State Division of Environmental Conservation.
Lefton brings a mixture of federal, state, nonprofit and personal sector expertise to the function. She beforehand served as director of the Bureau of Ocean Power Administration, the place she developed the federal company’s offshore wind program. Earlier than that she served as the primary assistant secretary for vitality and atmosphere for New York, the place she led the state’s environmental and local weather initiatives, and labored as deputy director of coverage for The Nature Conservancy in New York. And he or she most lately was the vp of offshore improvement for U.S. East at RWE, a global offshore wind trade firm.
“I am honored Governor Hochul has entrusted me to carry out the Department of Environmental Conservation’s critical mission,” Lefton mentioned. “I am committed to delivering meaningful results to enhance the health and safety of communities all across the state and to protecting our environment and natural resources for future generations.”
As DEC commissioner, she is going to oversee the state company with a $2.5 billion funds and employees of greater than 3,000 that manages 5 million acres of public lands, regulates pure sources, responds to chemical spills, and enforces the state’s environmental legal guidelines, amongst different duties.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who introduced Lefton’s nomination on Feb. 24, mentioned Lefton is a powerful chief with “a record of achievement — and … will play a pivotal role leading” the DEC. Her nomination have to be confirmed by the state Senate. Lefton begins within the function in an performing place on March 3, changing DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar, who has been operating the company since Basil Seggos stepped down final 12 months.
“She is a smart, component woman with an extraordinary array of experience in the public and private sector that will provide leadership and expertise to the DEC,” mentioned Adrienne Esposito, government director of the Farmingdale-based nonprofit Residents Marketing campaign for the Surroundings. “I have worked alongside Amanda in the past and she has demonstrated great depth of knowledge and commitment for environmental protection and public health issues. Her expertise is hard to find, and she is exactly the right person for the job.”
Parks & Trails New York Govt Director Paul Steely White mentioned Lefton’s collaborative qualities and experience will help the DEC in safeguarding the state’s open areas.
“Amanda Lefton has a strong track record standing up for the environment and defending the public interest,” White mentioned. “We look forward to working with her to achieve DEC’s mission to conserve, improve, and protect New York’s natural resources.”
