Governor Scott Appoints Noah Valenstein as Secretary of DEP

Governor Rick Scott today appointed, and the Florida Cabinet approved, Noah Valenstein as the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Governor Scott said, “Throughout his entire career, Noah has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to protecting our state’s incredible and diverse natural treasures. As a native Floridian, Noah knows firsthand how important our natural resources are to our families and visitors, and he understands that we must work each day to protect our environment on behalf of our future generations. Noah has worked hard to manage and oversee a range of environmental issues over his more than 15 years of public service, and I know he will use this invaluable experience in his new role as DEP Secretary. I am confident that Noah will continue to be a strong leader and advocate for preserving the future of our state’s beautiful and pristine environment.”
Noah has served as executive director for the Suwannee River Water Management District since 2015 where he implemented a restructuring of the agency and oversaw the protection and conservation of water and land resources across 15 counties. Noah previously served as the Policy Coordinator for Energy, Agriculture and Environment in the Executive Office of the Governor from 2012 through 2015. Noah also previously served as Director of Legislative Affairs for the Everglades Foundation and worked in the Legislative Affairs Office for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from Florida State University.