MONTGOMERY – The former manager of ADEM’s North Alabama Field Office in Decatur has been named director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
The Alabama Environmental Management Commission selected Edward F. Poolos, deputy commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, to head ADEM.
The commission voted to appoint Poolos after interviewing four finalists for the director’s job during its Friday public meeting. The other finalists were Anthony Scott Hughes, chief of the Field Operations Division at ADEM; David A. Perry, former chief of staff and state finance director for Gov. Robert Bentley; and Mike Thornton, director of Coffee County Environmental Services.
According to a news release, the commission evaluated the applications of 10 people who sought to replace former ADEM Director Lance LeFleur; he retired in May after leading the state environmental agency for 15 years.
Poolos has served as the deputy commissioner to ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship for the past eight years. Prior to that, he worked 25 years at ADEM, including 17 years in the Decatur field office.
“I am extremely grateful for Commissioner Blankenship and Gov. (Kay) Ivey for putting their trust in me in helping lead the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. I learned a lot,” Poolos said. “ADEM and ADCNR have two big things in common — serving the people and protecting the environment.
“I really look forward to returning to ADEM. I know the Department well — its dedicated staff and its mission. I am 100 percent invested in making the department better, safeguarding the environment and protecting the health and well-being of all Alabamians. I am extremely excited about this opportunity.”
A starting date for Poolos at ADEM has not been determined, the news release said.
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