Gina McCarthy
Regina McCarthy (born May 3, 1954) is an American air quality expert who served as the first White House national climate advisor from 2021 to 2022. She previously served as the thirteenth Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2013 to 2017.
Gina McCarthy | |
|---|---|
| 1st White House National Climate Advisor | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – September 16, 2022 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | Ali Zaidi |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Ali Zaidi |
| 13th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency | |
| In office July 18, 2013 – January 20, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | Bob Perciasepe |
| Preceded by | Lisa Jackson |
| Succeeded by | Scott Pruitt |
| Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for Air and Radiation | |
| In office June 2, 2009 – July 18, 2013 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey Holmstead |
| Succeeded by | William Wehrum |
| Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection | |
| In office November 10, 2004 – June 2, 2009 | |
| Governor | Jodi Rell |
| Preceded by | Arthur J. Rocque |
| Succeeded by | Amey Marella |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Regina McCarthy May 3, 1954 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Massachusetts Boston (BA) Tufts University (MS) |
A Massachusetts native, McCarthy holds degrees from the University of Massachusetts Boston and Tufts University. She was a civil servant in the Massachusetts state government, holding various environmental roles and serving as an environmental advisor to the Governor of Massachusetts. She served as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection from 2004 to 2009 before joining the EPA in 2009.
On March 4, 2013, President Barack Obama nominated McCarthy to replace Lisa Jackson as EPA administrator. Confirmation hearings started on April 11, 2013. On July 18, 2013, she was confirmed after a record 136-day confirmation process, becoming the face of Obama's global warming and climate change initiative.
In early 2020, McCarthy became president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
On December 18, 2020, President-elect Joe Biden announced that he would appoint McCarthy as the first White House national climate advisor, where she would advise Biden on domestic climate change policy and lead the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy. As a presidential appointee, she joined his administration on January 20, 2021. McCarthy stepped down from her role on September 16, 2022.