J.D. Strong

J.D. Strong (born 1971) is a civil servant from the US state of Oklahoma and the current Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.

Education and early career

A fifth generation Oklahoman, Strong graduated as valedictorian from Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University in Wildlife Ecology with a minor in Agronomy in 1993. While finishing his degree at OSU, Strong began working at the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, where he worked as an environmental scientist for several years. In 1996, Strong was appointed a special assistant to the Secretary of the Environment.

In his twelve years at the Office of the Secretary of the Environment, Strong served as the lead advisor to three different Environmental Secretaries for two Governors. In this capacity, he coordinated both the Governor’s Tar Creek Superfund Task Force and the Governor’s Animal Waste and Water Quality Protection Task Force under then Governor Frank Keating. Strong was also actively involved in efforts to address interstate water pollution concerns, particularly regarding excess phosphorus pollution in watersheds shared with the state of Arkansas. Strong has worked with northern Ottawa County officials on a massive buyout assistance program to relocate families and businesses from the nation’s most hazardous Superfund Site—the Tar Creek Superfund Site in Picher, Oklahoma.^[1]

Prior to his serving as Environmental Secretary, Strong served as the Office of the Secretary of the Environment's chief liaison to the Oklahoma Legislature before becoming the chief of staff to former Secretary of the Environment Miles Tolbert in 2003.

Secretary of the Environment

Strong was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry as his second Secretary of the Environment. Strong succeed Miles Tolbert, who resigned to take a position in the private sector. In addition to serving as Governor Henry’s lead advisor on environmental matters, Strong coordinated the activities of the Environmental Subcabinet, as well as oversaw the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.^[2]

Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board

Strong was appointed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board as its executive director in October 2010 while serving as Secretary of the Environment.^[3]

Personal life

Strong, his wife, Kalli, and their daughter, Edyn, live in southwest Oklahoma City where they are active in the Mustang, Oklahoma Public School system, their neighborhood association, their daughter’s competitive dance, and their local church.

References

1. ^ Office of Secrerary Strong. "Official biography of Secretary Strong". State of Oklahoma. http://www.environment.ok.gov/documents/Bio_SecStrong.pdf. 
2. ^ Office of Governor Henry (2008-08-20). "Gov. Henry names Strong environmental secretary". State of Oklahoma. http://gov.ok.gov/display_article.php?article_id=1131&article_type=1. 
3. ^ Oklahoma Water Resources Board (2010-10-12). "J.D. Strong Approved As New Water Board Director". Oklahoma Water Resources Board. http://www.owrb.ok.gov/news/news2/pressrelease2010.php#101210. 

External links

• Oklahoma Water Resources Board