Parks and Forestry

Bryana De Veaux serves as Director of Legislative Affairs under Deputy Commissioner Jane Rosenblatt Birkhofer.

Bryana oversees the Office of Legislative Affairs and is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to help advance DEP’s legislative initiatives. Bryana and her team play a key role in framing the Department’s affirmative legislative agenda, including crucial climate change issues.

Before joining the DEP, Bryana worked as a policy analyst for the New Jersey General Assembly (Majority Office), developing and analyzing legislation. She also helped draft legislation as a committee aide to the Assembly Higher Education and the Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations committees.

She received her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and sustainability from Drew University, where, as an undergraduate, she founded the college’s inaugural Waste Audit Day.

Bryana shares her home with her spirited dog, Cai.

Nick Angarone is New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer and manager of DEP’s Office of Climate Resilience.

As Chief Resilience Officer, Nick coordinates statewide resilience policy and serves as Vice-Chair of the Interagency Council on Climate Resilience. He also leads and directs the development of the Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy, and provides technical guidance and support to local governments in their efforts to address the impacts of climate change.

Guiding the Office of Climate Resilience, Nick oversees the Bureau of Climate Resilience Planning and the Blue Acres buyout program, and administers the New Jersey Coastal Management Program in cooperation with a network of programs across DEP. He also represents Commissioner Shawn LaTourette on the State Planning Commission, ensuring that climate resilience, natural resource protection and infrastructure capacity is incorporated into the planning process.

Nick has been with DEP since 2004, and previously served as liaison to the NJ Highlands Council, worked on state planning, developed wastewater management plans and established DEP’s first resilience planning program. Earlier, he worked in the private sector as a transportation planner, and for county government on regional planning and historic preservation.

Nick is a graduate of Rutgers University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental planning and design. He also received a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers.

Jennifer Moriarty is the Assistant Commissioner for Watershed and Land Management, overseeing the Division of Watershed Protection & Restoration, the Division of Land Resource Protection and the Division of Resilience, Engineering & Construction.

Jennifer joined DEP in 2021, as Director of the Division of Land Resource Protection, bringing a legal-minded approach to the Division’s management and providing a framework for reasonable outcomes that recognize applicants' goals, while protecting wetlands, coastal resources, flood hazard areas, water quality, and public health and safety. She was instrumental in the drafting of portions of the REAL (Resilient Environments and Landscapes) rule proposal, particularly related to nature-based solutions and coastal zone management.

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and a law degree from Temple University.   She spent the first decade of her legal career as a Deputy Attorney General, in the New Jersey Division of Law's Environmental Permitting and Counseling Section. She represented DEP in litigation, as well as providing counsel on other, similar concerns. Jennifer focused on land use permitting matters and secured several environmentally protective settlements, as well as appellate and trial court successes. During this time, she developed deep expertise in DEP’s land resource protection rules and policies, supporting our DEP team in protecting our wetlands, riparian areas, habitats, coastal resources and more.

As Assistant Commissioner, Jennifer brings a wealth of experience and her collaborative leadership style to support the WLM team as it works to implement transformative reforms that better protect our communities, neighbors and land resources from the impacts of climate change and prioritize a watershed-based approached to land resource protection.

Jennifer lives in Camden County, and enjoys time at the beach and exploring the outdoors with her husband, two young children, and rescue mutts.

David E. Haymes serves as Assistant Commissioner of the Contaminated Site Remediation & Redevelopment program under DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.

Appointed to this post in July 2022, he leads a staff of environmental professionals and managers who oversee the remediation of contaminated sites in the Division of Enforcement, Technical & Financial Operations, and the Division of Remediation Management.

David began his career with the Department of Environmental Protection in 1989, and has served as a geologist, a technical coordinator and a section chief. He held the position of Executive Assistant to the Assistant Commissioner of the former Site Remediation & Waste Management Program from 2010 to 2017 before becoming Director of the Division of Enforcement, Technical & Financial Support, and Administrator of the New Jersey Spill Compensation Fund in 2018.

Throughout his DEP career, David has been involved in writing regulations, guidance and legislation that form the framework for site remediation in New Jersey. He also has been active in developing strategies and policies related to emerging contaminants, including PFAS, and the Department’s ongoing litigation efforts to have polluters clean up contaminated sites and to reimburse the state for cleanups conducted using public funds.

David earned a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University and a master’s degree from the University of Illinois, both in geology. In his free time, he enjoys the outdoors, especially bike riding with his family along the D&R Canal.

Dave Golden serves as the Assistant Commissioner for Fish and Wildlife under DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

Dave oversees the state’s programs protecting and managing fish and wildlife resources, and works to maintain public access for wildlife-related recreation.

Dave began his career with the Department of Environmental Protection in 2001, working in Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species program. Since then, he has taken on various leadership roles within the program, serving as its director from 2019 to 2022.

Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kutztown University and holds a master’s degree from Miami University of Ohio. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, surfing and backpacking.

Pat Gardner serves as the Assistant Commissioner of Water Resource Management, overseeing the divisions of Water Monitoring and Standards, Water Quality, and Water Supply and Geoscience.

She has worked in the field of environmental protection for more than 30 years, starting her career with the DEP in the Radiation programs. She joined the Water Resource Management program six years ago. In Water Resource Management, Pat served as Director of the Division of Water Supply & Geoscience for 4½ years and Director of the Division of Water Monitoring & Standards for 1½ years.

Her efforts in Water Resource Management have focused on the revision of the long-term monitoring strategy; restoration grant program; assessment of the implementation of the Safe Drinking Water regulations, with an emphasis on the Lead and Copper Rule; emergency response; water supply planning; water infrastructure; and the development of maximum contaminant levels.

She has served on a variety of councils and boards, including the Delaware River Basin Commission, the New Jersey Water Supply Authority and the Drinking Water Quality Institute.

As a career DEP employee, Pat has a strong belief in public service and the protection of public health, safety and the environment.

Elizabeth Dragon serves as Assistant Commissioner for Community Investment and Economic Revitalization, and as Commissioner Shawn LaTourette’s designee to the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the New Jersey Council on the Green Economy.

Elizabeth previously led the Compliance and Enforcement program, where she oversaw the Divisions of Air Enforcement, Water and Land Use Enforcement, Waste Enforcement, Pesticides and Release Prevention, and Compliance Operations and Coordination.  Having started her DEP career in 2004, she spent time in the Division of Watershed Management, the Division of Water Quality, and the Bureau of Coastal and Land Use Enforcement.

Elizabeth is very invested in the people of the DEP and has spent many years collaborating with staff to better the work life of the department’s employees.

A devoted public servant, Elizabeth spent more than 12 years as a member of the Air National Guard. In 2001, she served in response to Operation Southern Watch and, in 2017, in response to Hurricane Maria in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Elizabeth lives in Burlington County, with her husband and daughter. She holds an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from University of Illinois at Chicago, and a master’s degree in engineering management from New Jersey Institute of Technology.

John Cecil serves as the Assistant Commissioner of State Parks, Forests, and Historic Sites under Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

He manages and oversees the Park Service, Park Police, Forest Service, Forest Fire Service and the Office of Natural Lands Management. His responsibilities include development, improvement, protection, management and administration of all state forests, parks, recreational areas, historic sites and natural areas, and the public activities associated with those resources.

John joined the Department in 2021, after spending nine years as vice president for Stewardship with New Jersey Audubon. There, he led and oversaw activities including the active management, restoration and recovery of wildlife and habitat, as well as conservation planning efforts. Earlier, John served as national director of the Important Bird Areas program for the National Audubon Society.

John has been a member of and served in a leadership capacity for several national and international organizations, including chair of the U.S. Shorebird Council; trustee to the Bahamas National Trust; and member of the U.S. National Ramsar Committee, Partners In Flight and the BirdLife Americas Partnership.

He also worked for state agencies in Delaware, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia.

John holds a master of science degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management from Frostburg State University.

Paul Baldauf serves as Assistant Commissioner for Air, Energy and Materials Sustainability.

Paul is responsible for the management and oversight of five divisions: Air Quality and Radiation, Air Enforcement, Climate and Clean Energy, Sustainable Waste Management, and Waste and UST Enforcement. He also serves as New Jersey’s state liaison officer to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is the state’s Commissioner to the Atlantic Compact Commission for Low-Level Radioactive Waste.

Paul has served as Assistant Commissioner of the program, formerly known as Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability, since 2016. Previously, he was Director of the Division of Energy Security and Sustainability, responsible for the oversight and operations of nuclear engineering, environmental radiation and X-ray compliance. He also oversaw the Bureau of Energy and Sustainability, which coordinates with the Board of Public Utilities on environmental aspects of the state’s energy portfolio, and led the Department’s sustainability initiatives.

A career DEP employee, Paul joined the department in 1987 as an engineer in the water quality program. He moved to radiation protection and release prevention in 2003, and rose to the post of Director of Environmental Safety and Health in 2010.

Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State University, as well as master’s degrees in civil and environmental engineering from Rutgers University and in homeland security from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He is a licensed professional engineer in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.

Jane Rosenblatt Birkhofer serves as Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

As Deputy Commissioner, Jane Rosenblatt Birkhofer is the principal adviser to Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette and serves as second-in-command of DEP, with penultimate oversight of nearly 3,400 environmental professionals and an annual operational and grant-making budget of approximately $1 billion. She is responsible for developing strategy and providing executive-level leadership for the implementation of priority policies and projects across DEP’s vast portfolio of subsidiary agencies and programs. Key focus areas for the Deputy Commissioner include development of governing policy for the siting and permitting of renewable energy facilities, including offshore wind farms, as well as the development and implementation of concerted conservation, recreation and stewardship policies across nearly 1 million acres of public lands owned and managed by DEP.

Prior to her appointment, Deputy Commissioner Birkhofer spent nearly six years as DEP Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff, posts from which she led DEP Senior Staff in partnership with Commissioner LaTourette, and former Commissioner Catherine McCabe, in executing Governor Phil Murphy’s environmental and clean energy agenda. Before joining DEP in 2018, the Deputy Commissioner served in the Office of Governor Murphy as the Department’s Cabinet Liaison. Prior to her state government posts, she developed environmental policy expertise in the nonprofit sector, with a focus on advancing sustainable water infrastructure investment and local environmental action.

Kelley Heck is the Chief Communications Officer under Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

As Chief Communications Officer, Kelley leads the agency’s external and internal communications, outreach and public education initiatives.

Kelley brings two decades of experience to her role at the DEP. She has worked with corporate, nonprofit and government leaders, and has served in senior communications roles within state government.

Prior to joining DEP, Kelley provided strategic communications guidance for a Trenton-based nonprofit on a wide range of environmental, infrastructure and land-use issues.

Kelley holds a master’s degree in public affairs and politics from the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, and was a graduate fellow in the university’s Eagleton Institute of Politics. She lives with her husband, two daughters and Siberian cat, Naomi.

Kimberly Cahall serves as Chief Adviser to DEP’s Legal & Regulatory Team. She is the primary contact on a variety of legal matters involving the Department and helps coordinate legal activities with the state’s Office of Attorney General/Division of Law. She is the principal liaison for the Department when DEP works with special outside counsel in conjunction with the OAG. Kim also oversees several DEP legal and regulatory staff, including the offices of Legal Affairs, Administrative Hearings & Dispute Resolution and Transactions & Public Land Administration.

She additionally serves as the Chief Enforcement Officer, leading the Office of Enforcement Policy, which is responsible for advancing DEP’s affirmative agenda on enforcement initiatives and priorities, and serves as primary liaison to the Attorney General on enforcement litigation matters. The Office also manages the Bureau of Local Environmental Management, the Community Right to Know program and the Licensed Site Remediation Board staff.

Kim previously served as Senior Director, Capital Compliance and Project Risk Officer, at NJ Transit. Earlier, she was Director of the Superstorm Sandy Compliance Unit within the state Attorney General’s Office and served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Division of Law, in both the Environmental Practice Group and the Special Litigation Section. She represented the DEP in a broad range of environmental litigation and was lead counsel to the New Jersey Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board.

Kim graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with a degree in biology, from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her law degree cum laude from Villanova University School of Law, where she was a member of the Villanova Environmental Law Journal. Kim lives in Hunterdon County, with her husband, two young children and her Catahoula Leopard Dog.

Adrienne Kreipke serves as Chief Financial and Operations Officer under Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

In this role, Adrienne oversees the DEP’s divisions of Budget and Financial Operations; Human Resources; Information Technology; Health Safety and Facilities Management; and the Office of Equal Opportunity and Public Contract Assistance.

Adrienne has worked at DEP since 2013, previously serving as Director of Budget and Financial Operations. Her prior experience includes 15 years with the New Jersey Office of Management and Budget, in the Department of Treasury, most recently as Assistant Director. She also has worked in the nonprofit sector and for the federal government.

Adrienne holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a Master in Public Policy degree from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Dr. Monise Princilus serves as Chief Diversity Officer, leading the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is tasked with organizational transformation and implementing comprehensive diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) strategies that promote a culture of inclusivity and innovation.

Monise’s role extends to mentoring and developing talent, nurturing future leaders who reflect the rich diversity of New Jersey.

Prior to joining the Department, Monise served as Associate Vice President and Title IX Coordinator at Rowan University, where she led efforts for the Office of Student Equity and Compliance. Earlier, she worked in human resources at Mercer County Community College, the Jersey City Housing Authority, and the Willingboro and Camden public schools. She also worked for the City of Trenton, overseeing the Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training under then-Mayor Douglas Palmer.

Monise graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science/pre-law from Fairleigh Dickinson University; a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University. She earned two doctoral degrees from Seton Hall University – an Ed.S. in Education, Leadership, Management and Policy, and an Ed.D. in Education, Leadership, Management and Policy.

Kandyce Perry serves as Director of the Office of Environmental Justice under Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

Kandyce is responsible for the management and oversight of the OEJ, which provides guidance to the DEP and all New Jersey state departments and agencies on how they can incorporate environmental justice into their statutory and regulatory responsibilities, policies, programs and core functions. She also oversees the convening of the State's Environmental Justice Interagency Council and Environmental Justice Advisory Council, while acting as a key contact for overburdened communities.

Prior to joining the department, Kandyce worked at a Trenton-based nonprofit, where she directed policies and programs aimed at reducing flooding, improving water quality and ensuring equitable funding of stormwater infrastructure upgrades in the state. She also had worked on brownfield redevelopment for the Camden Redevelopment Agency.

Kandyce holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Spelman College. She believes that environmental justice for our must vulnerable and overburdened communities brings about justice for all of Earth’s inhabitants.

Kati Angarone serves as Chief Strategy Officer for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Kati advances strategic initiatives, including expanding public access to environmental information, increasing the visibility of DEP programs and services, cultivating external partnerships and coordinating strategic planning on cross-media issues. She also oversees the efforts of our Office of Legislative Affairs and our Office of Environmental and Public Health Analysis.

Kati has worked at DEP for more than 25 years. She previously served as Assistant Commissioner for Watershed and Land Management (WLM), overseeing the Division of Watershed Protection & Restoration, the Division of Land Resource Protection and the Division of Resilience, Engineering & Construction. As WLM’s leader, she focused on advancing watershed initiatives, including integration of New Jersey-specific climate change science into watershed policy. The post followed a term as Associate Commissioner for Science & Policy, where she managed science, environmental health and economic analysis programs, while developing policy protective of New Jersey’s environment and public health.

Earlier, Kati spent several years focused on water policy, including the adoption of new drinking water standards, which involved first-in-the-nation PFAS standards and water supply emergency response. More than half of her DEP career was spent assisting with the development of New Jersey’s state land use policies, including stormwater management, habitat protection, flood hazard area controls and protection of the Highlands region.

A passionate advocate of the environment, Kati is dedicated to DEP’s mission to protect the environment and public health in service to the people of New Jersey.

Megan Brunatti serves as Chief of Staff of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Chief of Staff Megan Brunatti advises and supports Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette in leading DEP’s Senior Staff and directing a vast portfolio of programs and subsidiary agencies charged with improving and protecting public health and the environment. As Chief of Staff, Megan serves as a principal liaison to the Office of Governor Phil Murphy, provides executive-level support to DEP’s senior leaders and oversees priority initiatives to restore and conserve New Jersey’s natural resources, reduce and respond to climate change, and facilitate the responsible development of clean energy facilities.

A 23-year veteran of the Department, Megan began her career in the Contaminated Site Remediation & Redevelopment program, where she worked to compel responsible parties to clean up legacy pollution and return once-contaminated properties to productive use. She later led Department efforts to coordinate permitting and environmental reviews, becoming the Director of DEP’s Office of Permitting & Project Navigation (OPPN), which provides unified oversight and ensures readiness for the environmental permitting of the most complex projects in New Jersey, including the development of offshore wind and other renewable energy facilities. Since 2016, Megan has guided DEP’s offshore wind workstreams, assembling and coordinating the efforts of an interdisciplinary team of experts on offshore wind development, serving as a liaison to other state and federal agencies, and representing DEP in various offshore wind working groups.

Megan had served as Deputy Chief of Staff since 2021 and was appointed Chief of Staff in 2024. In these posts. she led DEP Senior Staff in partnership with Commissioner LaTourette and Deputy Commissioner Jane Rosenblatt Birkhofer.