DEP Undergoes Changes in Management by Elaine Makatura, Assistant Commissioner's Office

The DEP recently implemented several management changes in response to some top-level managers leaving the agency for new careers.

The changes have impacted seven of the eight organizational areas within the agency: Commissioner's Office, Compliance and Enforcement, Environmental Planning and Science, Environmental Regulation, Land Use Management, Natural and Historic Resources, and Site Remediation.

In October 1999, Commissioner Bob Shinn appointed Marlen Dooley to the Deputy Commissioner post, reporting to Chief of Staff Mark Smith. Dooley, an attorney, has been with the DEP for 14 years. She most recently had the responsibility for overseeing the department's compliance and enforcement section as assistant commissioner. Before joining the DEP, Dooley served in the NJ Department of Law and Public Safety as a Deputy Attorney General.

Filling the assistant commissioner spot vacated by Dooley is Cathy Tormey. Tormey rejoined the department in December 1999. Prior to that she was a Deputy Attorney General in the Division of Law.

In May 2000, Chief of Staff Mark Smith left the department to pursue a career with a consulting firm. Commissioner Bob Shinn appointed Gary Sondermeyer to fill the vacant chief of staff position. Sondermeyer is a career DEP employee and has held various managerial positions over his 20-year span of service. Most recently he was assistant commissioner of Environmental Regulation.

The former director of the Division of Water Quality, Dennis Hart, was appointed assistant commissioner of Environmental Regulation. Hart will oversee the Division of Water Quality, the Pollution Prevention & Permit Coordination Program, the Air Quality Regulation Program, the Division of Environmental Safety, Health & Analytical Programs and the Division of Solid & Hazardous Waste.

Narinder K. Ahuja P.E., P.P., has been appointed to Dennis Hart's position as director, Division of Water Quality. Ahuja has spent most of his career serving in the DEP's Land Use and Water Programs, most recently as assistant director of the Watershed Permitting Element.

Jeff Reading has filled Ahuja's position as assistant director Watershed Permitting Element, while Howard Tompkins was appointed to the Bureau of Point Source Permitting (Region 1) bureau chief spot vacated by Reading.

Other Changes Around the Department

• Cari Wild was appointed to assistant commissioner, Natural and Historic Resources in September 1999. She replaced long time assistant commissioner Jim Hall, who left the department to take the position of superintendent of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.

• Robert Tudor, who previously held the position of assistant commissioner - Environmental Planning and Science, was appointed to deputy commissioner in May 2000. Tudor replaced Kerri Radcliff who left the agency to move to England.

• Leslie McGeorge, who was the former director of the Division of Science, Research, and Technology was appointed to assistant commissioner of Environmental Planning and Science in July 2000.

• Marty Rosen, the former assistant director of the Office of Innovative Technology & Market development was appointed acting director of the Division of Science Research and Technology in June 2000.

• Susan Boyle, the former director of Responsible Party Site Remediation was appointed to assistant commissioner of Site Remediation in July 2000.

• Bob VanFossen, formerly assistant director for Discharge Response was appointed director, Responsible Party Site Remediation in June 2000.