Jane Rosenblatt Birkhofer is the Chief of Staff under Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

Jane aids Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette in providing policy direction to DEP programs responsible for ensuring protection of New Jersey land, air, water and natural and historic resources. She also serves as the Commissioner’s designee to the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and manages appointments to environmental and natural resource boards and commissions.

Additionally, Jane oversees priority projects through the DEP’s Office of Permit Coordination and Environmental Review, and provides executive leadership for the DEP’s Community Collaborative Initiative, a place-based brownfields redevelopment program.

Prior to joining the DEP, Jane served as Cabinet Liaison, Office of Cabinet Affairs, in the Office of Governor Phil Murphy. Before joining state government, Jane developed expertise in the nonprofit community, with focuses on advancing sustainable water infrastructure investment and local environmental action.

Sean Moriarty serves as Deputy Commissioner for Legal, Regulatory and Legislative Affairs to Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

Sean leads DEP’s internal legal team and serves as its general counsel on all matters of regulatory compliance and rule-making, and will oversee the newly created Office of Enforcement Policy. He also is a member of the Commissioner’s executive team, providing input on priority initiatives that include climate change and environmental justice.

Previously, Sean served as Chief Advisor for Regulatory and Legislative Affairs. Before assuming this position, he was the Director of the Office of Legal Affairs after several years as a Regulatory Officer with the Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship for the DEP’s Green Acres Program. Before joining DEP, Sean represented the department as a Deputy Attorney General.

Sean received both his undergraduate and law degrees from Rutgers University. He lives with his wife, children and two energetic dogs in Haddon Township.

Kati Angarone is the Associate Commissioner for Science and Policy at the Department of Environmental Protection.

As Associate Commissioner, she works to develop policy that protects New Jersey’s environment and the public health, and ensures policy cohesion across the Department to advance DEP priorities, including climate, water and environmental health.

Kati oversees the Division of Science and Research, which provides scientific support to programs across the Department, as well as other state agencies; and the Office of Environmental Public Health and Safety, which works closely with the state Department of Health to provide analysis and data for environmental public health issues.

Kati has worked at DEP for more than 20 years.

Prior to assuming the role of Associate Commissioner, she spent many years assisting with the development of state land-use policies, including stormwater management, habitat protection, flood hazard area controls and protection of the Highlands region. She also previously spent several years focused on drinking water policy, including the adoption of new drinking water standards; prevention and management of harmful algal blooms; and water supply emergency response.

Megan Brunatti serves as Deputy Chief of Staff under Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

Megan works with Chief of Staff Jane Rosenblatt Birkhofer to advance Governor Phil Murphy and Commissioner LaTourette’s key priorities, as well as further developing and strengthening DEP strategic initiatives. She also will continue to lead DEP’s coordinated efforts to oversee the responsible development of offshore wind.

A 21-year veteran of the Department, Megan began her career in the Site Remediation program, where she worked to compel responsible parties to clean up contaminated sites, assessing penalties and, in some cases, negotiating settlements. She later moved to the Office of Permit Coordination & Environmental Review, gaining a broad knowledge of all programs and permitting in the Department. Megan eventually became Director of the renamed Office of Permitting and Project Navigation, where she continued to serve until this new appointment.

Since 2018, Megan has guided the DEP’s work on offshore wind, coordinating a cross program team of experts on offshore wind permitting, acting as a liaison to state and federal agencies, and serving as DEP's representative on various external offshore wind working groups.

Megan studied environmental policy at Rutgers University. She lives in Ocean County, with her husband, two children and their dog, Sunny.

Adrienne Kreipke is Assistant Commissioner for Management and Budget.

In this role, Adrienne oversees the DEP’s divisions of Budget and Financial Operations; Human Resources; Information Technology; General Services and Systems Coordination; and the Office of Diversity, Equal Employment Opportunity and Public Contract Assistance.

Adrienne has worked at the 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.

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.

Nick Angarone is New Jersey’s Chief Resilience Officer and manager of the DEP's Bureau of Climate Resilience Planning.

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.

Overseeing the Bureau of Climate Resilience Planning, Nick 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, as well as a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the Bloustein School.

Marelyn Rivera as the Director of Outreach and Digital Communications under Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

As Director of Outreach and Digital Communications, Marelyn oversees social media, internal communications, events and DEP’s website, and coordinates public engagement and outreach to stakeholders.

Marelyn has more than 15 years of experience in the public and private sectors, including work with local and state governments, as well as nonprofit organizations.

Prior to joining DEP, Marelyn worked with Governor Phil Murphy, assisting his office with outreach and communication for all Latino-related issues. Earlier, she served as chief of staff for a Hudson County Commissioner. Marelyn also was a longtime event consultant and has experience developing and executing multifaceted marketing strategies and campaigns. From 2015 to 2018, she leveraged her professional insight to host "North Hudson,” a bilingual, local access television show focused on community leaders and local issues.

A first-generation student of higher education in her family, Marelyn studied fashion marketing and management at Berkeley College. A Hudson County native, she is fluent in English and Spanish, and conversant in Italian. Marelyn lives in Trenton with her cat, Kitkat, and her dog, Gaia.

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. 

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

Paul is responsible for the management and oversight of three divisions: Air Quality, Air Enforcement, and Climate, Clean Energy and Radiation Protection. 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 AQES 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.

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.

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 and Geoscience for 4½ years and Director of the Division of Water Monitoring and 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.

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.

Vincent Mazzei serves as Assistant Commissioner for Watershed and Land Management, overseeing the Division of Land Resource Protection and the new Division of Watershed Protection and Restoration.

Selected to lead the WLM program in June, Vince previously supervised the Bureau of Inland Regulation, in the Division of Land Use Regulation.

Vince began his DEP career in 1988, following his graduation from Stevens Institute of Technology. He is a licensed professional engineer and is regarded as an expert in flood risk analysis and mitigation. For more than 30 years, Vince has worked to support environmentally responsible planning, design and construction of thousands of development and infrastructure projects throughout New Jersey.

Vince authored New Jersey’s Flood Hazard Area Control Act rules, which are the most stringent statewide flood hazard area and stream corridor protection regulations in the nation. He has a leading role in the development of NJPACT, a targeted regulatory reform initiative aimed at modernizing many of the state’s environmental regulations to protect against climate threats. He also serves as chairman of the New Jersey Association for Floodplain Management.

Vince was named the 2018 Government Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers, North Jersey Branch, and the 2016 Civil Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers, Central Jersey Branch. He is a two-time recipient of the State of New Jersey Teamwork and Partnership Award.

Vince earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Stevens and a master’s degree in theology from Pennsylvania’s Cairn University. His interests include hiking, traveling, volunteering and composing music, as well as studying history, theology and mathematical theory.

Vince lives in Hunterdon County with his wife (and fellow DEP employee), Becky, and their three children, Zachary, Evelyn and Jonah.

Mark Pedersen serves as Assistant Commissioner for Site Remediation and Waste Management under Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

Mark has been with the DEP for more than 35 years. As Assistant Commissioner, he oversees the remediation of contaminated sites in New Jersey and ensures that solid and hazardous waste are managed in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. In addition, he is chairman of the New Jersey Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board, which supervises the licensing and performance of site remediation professionals.

Mark previously served as Director of Land Use Regulation, responsible for managing land-use permitting programs. He has worked with the Governor’s Office of Recovery and Rebuilding, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to facilitate recovery efforts and rebuilding of New Jersey’s coastal areas in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

Mark has extensive experience in brownfield development, industrial site remediation and enforcement. He has had a lead role in implementing many initiatives, including those that helped to establish the Site Remediation Reform Act.