A Montgomery County official has been named to head the Environmental Protection Agency region overseeing Maryland and four other states, the White House said Tuesday.
Adam Ortiz, director of the suburban Washington county’s Department of Environmental Protection, will lead the region whose territory includes, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware, as well as Washington D.C., and seven federally recognized tribes.
Ortiz is a Prince George’s County resident and was previously director of the county’s Department of Environment. He served in the administration of former Gov. Martin O’Malley focusing on workforce, higher education, and veterans affairs.
The EPA has 10 regions responsible for executing agency programs in their areas.
The agency is tasked with working with Maryland and other states on Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.