Dr. Chuck Carr Brown named Secretary of LA DEQ

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards recently appointed Dr. Chuck Carr Brown as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), a position that will see him lead the state’s environmental protection efforts.

Brown brings a strong academic and practical background in the field, having worked at the DEQ as assistant secretary for environmental services from 2004 to 2008. He holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi, a master’s in public administration from Southern University A&M College and a doctorate in philosophy in public and environmental policy from the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at the Southern University A&M College. Before his appointment, he was serving as the president and CEO of Brown and Associates LLC, which saw him work in the fields of environmental services, government relations and issue management. He is also resigning from leadership roles with New Orleans’ Metro Service Group and Hattiesburg, Mississippi’s Community Resource Services.

As the secretary of the DEQ, Brown will be responsible for overseeing the department’s work to regulate pollution and provide permits, interface between various stakeholders concerned with environmental policy, respond to emergencies and issue enforcement actions, among other responsibilities.