The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality announced
today the appointment of Bret Parke, currently General Counsel for the state’s
Department of Administration, as the agency’s deputy director. In his new
capacity, Mr. Parke will serve as chief of staff to ADEQ Director Misael
Cabrera and oversee the agency’s operations, including its budget and
administrative support functions.
The
appointment, effective Oct. 26, 2015, marks a return to ADEQ for Mr. Parke, who
began his legal career as a staff attorney for the agency before eventually
becoming its Administrative Counsel in 2010. He held that post until April 2012
when he was named ADOA General Counsel, where he provided legal advice on the
state’s myriad administrative practices – everything from procurement and risk
management to government accounting and finance, state facilities construction,
IT security, and employment and personnel services. As General Counsel, Mr.
Parke also chaired the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council, which oversees and
approves adoption of state agency rules.
As
Administrative Counsel at ADEQ, Mr. Parke served as the top legal advisor to
the agency director. He also chaired five internal committees, managed ADEQ’s
Strategic Enforcement Unit and was the agency’s representative on the Arizona
Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee.
About
ADEQ
Established
by the Arizona Legislature under the Environmental Quality Act of 1986, the
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality is the state agency responsible for
protecting and enhancing public health and the environment of Arizona.
[excerpted from the ADEQ news release]
