Lisa P. Jackson

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Lisa Jackson

Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 23, 2009
President Barack Obama
Preceded by Stephen Johnson
Chief of Staff to the Governor of New Jersey
In office
December 1, 2008 – December 15, 2008
Governor Jon Corzine
Preceded by Bradley Abelow
Succeeded by Edward McBride
New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection
In office
February 28, 2006 – November 30, 2008
Governor Jon Corzine
Preceded by Bradley Campbell
Succeeded by Mark N. Mauriello
Born February 8, 1962 (1962-02-08) (age 47)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Kenneth Jackson
Alma mater Tulane University
Princeton University
Website www.epa.gov

Lisa Perez Jackson[1] (born February 8, 1962) is an American chemical engineer and politician currently serving as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Previously, she worked at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for 6 years, first as an assistant commissioner and later as commissioner. Prior to that, she was employed by the EPA for 16 years.

Contents

[edit] Family life and education

Lisa Jackson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was adopted weeks after her birth. She grew up in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana and in 1979 graduated as valedictorian at Saint Mary's Dominican High School in New Orleans.[2] She graduated summa cum laude from the School of Chemical Engineering at Tulane University. Jackson then earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University. Her adoptive mother was living in New Orleans at the time Hurricane Katrina flooded the city in 2005.[3] Jackson is married to Kenneth Jackson and is the mother of two children.[2]

[edit] Career

[edit] Early career

Jackson began her career circa 1986 with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. She then moved to its regional office in New York City. During her tenure at EPA, Jackson worked in the federal Superfund site remediation program, developing numerous hazardous waste cleanup regulations, overseeing hazardous waste cleanup projects throughout central New Jersey, and directing multimillion-dollar cleanup operations. She later served as deputy director and acting director of the region’s enforcement division.[2]

After 16 years with EPA, Jackson joined the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in March 2002 as assistant commissioner of compliance and enforcement. She served as the assistant commissioner for land use management during 2005. Jackson headed numerous programs, including land use regulation, water supply, geological survey, water monitoring and standards, and watershed management. She focused on developing a system of incentives for stimulating what was in her opinion the right growth in the right places. Under her leadership, the state Department of Environmental Protection developed regulatory standards for implementing the landmark Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act.

[edit] New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection

Jon S. Corzine, Governor of New Jersey, nominated her for Commissioner of Environmental Protection. Serving in that position, Jackson led a staff of 2,990 professionals responsible for protecting, sustaining, and enhancing water, air, and land of New Jersey and preserving the state's wealth of natural and historic resources. In addition to overseeing environmental programs for the state, as Commissioner, Jackson oversaw state parks and beaches, fish and wildlife programs and historic preservation. As commissioner in July 2006, she had to shut down all state parks and beaches due to the state governmental shutdown in relation to the state budget delay.

As the state's chief environmental enforcer, Jackson led compliance sweeps in Camden and Paterson, communities in which the effects of pollution on public health had long been neglected. She launched the environmental initiative following multicultural outreach efforts to inform and involve community residents and businesses. Working with county officials, New Jersey State Police and the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection then mobilized more than 70 inspectors to conduct upward of 1,000 compliance investigations in the two cities, the first of a series of enforcement sweeps.[2]

The environmental magazine Grist interviewed several New Jersey environmental activists and reported that opinion about Jackson was divided: "The split seems to be between those who work on energy and climate policy in the state's capital [who were supportive of Jackson] and those who work on toxic cleanups at the local level [who were critical of her]." [4]

[edit] In the news

On December 8, 2009, Lisa Jackson said in a written statement that carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases a threat to public health. [5]

[edit] Chief of staff to the Governor of New Jersey

On October 24, 2008, Corzine announced that Jackson would take over as his Chief of Staff, effective December 1, 2008, succeeding Bradley Abelow.[6] As Chief of Staff Jackson would have served as Corzine's top advisor and chief political liaison to the State Legislature. However, Jackson was tapped by Obama to become Administrator of the EPA just days after she became Corzine's chief of staff and resigned on December 15, 2008. [7]

[edit] Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

On December 15, 2008, President-Elect Barack Obama officially designated Jackson as the nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.[8] She was confirmed through unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on January 23, 2009.[9] Jackson is the first person of African American descent to serve as EPA Administrator, along with being the fourth woman and second New Jerseyan to hold the position.[10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Phillips, Kate. "More Obama Cabinet Nominees Confirmed", “The New York Times”, January 22, 2009, retrieved on January 23, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Biographical information.“About Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson”, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, accessed December 12, 2008.
  3. ^ Tilove, Jonathan. “Obama taps New Orleans native Lisa Jackson to lead Environmental Protection Agency”. The Times-Picayune, December 15, 2009, retrieved January 23, 2009
  4. ^ Sheppard, Kate. "The Lisa of our concerns: N.J. enviros deeply divided over record of Obama's EPA nominee" ,”grist.org”, January 5, 2009.
  5. ^ "EPA Issues Greenhouse Gas Warning Despite Concerns Over Leaked E-Mails" , "The Star Ledger", December 9, 2009.
  6. ^ Press Release.“Governor Corzine Names New Chief of Staff”, “nj.gov”, October 24, 2008, accessed October 27, 2008.
  7. ^ Obama picks N.J. official to lead environmental agency, The Star Ledger, 2008-12-10
  8. ^ Heininger, Claire, Margolin, Josh. “Obama picks N.J. official to lead environmental agency”, “NJ.com”, December 10, 2008.
  9. ^ “ Senate confirms Lisa Jackson as EPA administrator”, January 23, 2009. The Star-Ledger, January 23, 2009, retrieved January 23, 2009.
  10. ^ Kocieniewski, David."The New Team Lisa P. Jackson", The New York Times, December 11, 2008, retrieved December 16, 2008.

[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Bradley M. Campbell		 Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
February 28, 2006 – November 30, 2008		 Succeeded by
Mark Mauriello
Preceded by
Bradley Abelow		 Chief of Staff to the Governor of New Jersey
December 1, 2008 – December 15, 2008		 Succeeded by
Edward McBride
Government offices
Preceded by
Stephen L. Johnson		 12th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Served under: Barack Obama
January 23, 2009 – present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_P._Jackson"