For Immediate Release: Wednesday, November 19, 2025
The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Jennifer Macedonia as the Director of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). She was nominated by County Executive Marc Elrich in October. Macedonia brings more than three decades of experience in environmental policy, climate strategy, clean energy, and public-sector leadership, including serving most recently as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Implementation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Air and Radiation.
“Jennifer brings deep experience and a clear understanding of what it takes to turn climate policy into real-world progress,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “As a Montgomery County resident, she knows how strongly our community values clean air, clean water, and sustainable growth. Her time at EPA, particularly her work on major investments under the Inflation Reduction Act, provides her with the background we need to continue moving toward our Climate Action Plan goals. DEP plays a central role in that work, and I am pleased that someone with her expertise and commitment is now leading the department.”
The Department of Environmental Protection oversees County initiatives focused on climate action, clean energy, recycling and resource management, water quality, sustainability programs, and environmental protection efforts. DEP manages a wide range of programs designed to meet the County’s climate goals, support residents and businesses, and strengthen environmental resilience.
“I am honored by this appointment and grateful for the trust County Executive Elrich and the County Council have placed in me,” said Macedonia. “Montgomery County has set ambitious climate and sustainability goals, and I look forward to working with our talented DEP team, community partners, businesses and residents to advance that work. This is a pivotal moment for environmental leadership, and I am committed to helping the County deliver meaningful, durable progress that benefits everyone.”
Macedonia is a solutions-oriented leader known for building coalitions, designing high-impact climate programs, and accelerating clean energy deployment. In her role at the EPA, she oversaw the rollout of more than $10 billion in Inflation Reduction Act grants and technical assistance aimed at reducing emissions across transportation, buildings, electricity, industry, waste, and land sectors.
She led efforts to design and implement 15 new federal programs to deliver transformative climate and air quality improvements and spearheaded extensive stakeholder engagement with state, Tribal, local, industry, labor, and community partners.
Her responsibilities included coordinating with the U.S. Department of the Treasury on the design of new clean energy tax credits, representing EPA on the Hydrogen Interagency Task Force and negotiating program design issues at the highest levels of the federal government.
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Before her most recent EPA leadership role, Macedonia served as Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy in the EPA, where she directed National Environmental Policy Act impact reviews and advanced climate and environmental justice policy. She managed EPA’s work on clean energy supply chain resilience and climate-related financial risks, and partnered with federal agencies to strengthen sustainability and climate-smart infrastructure planning.
Earlier in her career, she served nearly a decade in various EPA roles working on international climate negotiations, emissions trading programs, and major air quality rulemakings, including for the Acid Rain SO₂ Trading Program.
Macedonia holds a bachelor of science in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University. She serves as a board member for Project Green Schools and has been featured in numerous national media outlets, including NPR, CNN, CBS News, Reuters, Scientific American, Bloomberg, and The Economist.
A Montgomery County resident for more than 30 years, she looks forward to working closely with County departments, partners, and community organizations to advance environmental protection and climate resilience.
Read the original article at mcgov