Dana Aunkst was named recently to the position of Executive Deputy for Programs, but is still holding on to his previous job as Deputy for Field Operations.  The position was previously held by John Hines who left the agency in early 2012.

In his most recent position as Deputy Secretary for Field Operations, he was responsible for overseeing the operations of DEP's six regional offices. The regional field offices directly implement the Air Quality, Environmental Cleanup and Brownfield Redevelopment, Radiation Protection, Waste Management, Watershed Conservation and Restoration, Clean Water, Waterways and Wetlands, and Safe Drinking Water Programs.

Prior being Deputy for Field Operations, Dana was the Director for the Bureau of Water Standards and Facility Regulation at DEP. There he was responsible for planning, directing and coordinating the Department's programs and regulations related to water quality standards, drinking water facilities, and sewage and industrial wastewater treatment facilities.

Mr. Aunkst started with DER in 1985 as a sanitary engineer in the Meadville regional office. He also worked for a period of time in the Williamsport regional office. He has been with the Department off and on for 21 years and has worked in environmental protection, in both the private and public sectors, for over 29 years.

Mr. Aunkst has also worked in private practice as a consulting environmental engineer, an industrial plant engineer, and for local government as a Public Works Manager. Mr. Aunkst holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Penn State University and is a registered professional engineer in Pennsylvania.

9/16/2013