On February 18, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the nomination of Jessica Shirley to serve as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection. 

She has been Acting Secretary of DEP since the resignation of Richard Negrin on October 26, 2023.

The Governor also nominated Dr. Carrie Rowe to serve as Secretary of the Department of Education.

Gov.  Shapiro said his nominations reflect his commitment to strong, experienced leadership in key state agencies that affect Pennsylvanians every day.

The nominations are subject to confirmation by the Pennsylvania Senate.

“Dr. Rowe and Acting Secretary Shirley are experienced, dedicated public servants – and I am proud to nominate them to serve as Secretaries and continue their work in education and environmental protection,” said Gov. Shapiro. “Dr. Rowe has dedicated her career to ensuring every student has access to a quality education, and Acting Secretary Shirley has been a driving force in safeguarding our environment while streamlining permitting processes and promoting economic growth. Their expertise and leadership will help us build a stronger Commonwealth as we keep working to bring people together, solve problems, and create real opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.”

Gov. Shapiro said, the Department of Environmental Protection under Acting Secretary Shirley has worked diligently to protect Pennsylvanians’ constitutional rights to clean air and pure water while improving the permitting experience for Pennsylvania businesses.

DEP is modernizing its permitting process by investing in technology and reviewing processes to identify and eliminate bottlenecks.

DEP has eliminated the vast majority of the permit backlog that existed when the Shapiro Administration took office – and has developed a new Permit Status Tracker tool(opens in a new tab), a user-friendly new tool to track the progress of permit applications submitted to DEP.

Throughout the Shapiro Administration, DEP has been hiring staff to improve operational efficiency, including 225 employees to carry out critical functions like public health and safety inspections and permit application reviews.

“As someone who has dedicated their career to public service, it’s an honor to be nominated to lead the Department of Environmental Protection. Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, I understand the importance of the mission to protect Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water resources, providing for the health and safety of our residents and businesses,” said Acting Secretary Shirley. “I look forward to working as part of the Shapiro Administration, alongside the dedicated staff at DEP, to continue our mission to protect public health and the environment.”

Jessica Shirley has been a leader in Pennsylvania’s environmental policy for more than a decade.

As Acting Secretary of DEP, she has played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable and equitable environmental practices, said Gov. Shapiro.

Previously, as Executive Deputy Secretary, she oversaw the agency’s core programs and helped manage the implementation of federal funding for well plugging, abandoned mine land reclamation, and local water infrastructure.

Shirley’s tenure at DEP includes serving as Policy Director, where she helped direct the agency’s work addressing PFAS contamination, the Chesapeake Bay cleanup, energy conservation, and environmental justice.

Shirley holds a master's degree in public administration from Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Click Here for a copy of the Governor’s announcement.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website.  Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

NewsClips:

-- PA Capital-Star: Gov. Shapiro Nominates New Leader For PA Department Of Environmental Protection

-- PoliticsPA: Shapiro Nominates Jessica Shirley As DEP Secretary; Dr. Carrie Rowe As Education Secretary

[Posted: February 19, 2025]

2/24/2025