DES Commissioner Stepping Down

New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Commissioner Tom Burack will step down in the next few months.

“Tom Burack has informed me that sometime within the next few months he intends to step down from his position as commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services, a vital role that he will have served with distinction for more than a decade,” says Gov. Maggie Hassan. “Under his leadership, the department has focused on combating the serious challenge of climate change and ensuring that New Hampshire citizens and visitors have access to clean air, water and land while providing excellent customer service—all of which is critical to our state’s economy and future success.”

“Tom has also led and facilitated a voluntary, informal network of state agency commissioners for eight years, helping to bring agencies together to improve the operations of and drive innovation and efficiency in state government,” she adds. “He is a leader on the regional and national levels as well, including envisioning and co-leading an overall modernization of how environmental protection services are delivered nationwide through a joint state-tribal-federal initiative known as E-Enterprise for the Environment.”

Commissioner Burack will officially resign sometime in the next few months. Under state statute, NHDES Assistant Commissioner Clark Freise will serve as acting commissioner upon Burack's departure and until a permanent commissioner is chosen. “Serving as Commissioner of NHDES has been an extraordinary privilege and honor,” says Burack.  “I have decided that 10 years is the right length of time for me to serve in this role, and I am grateful to Governor Hassan for her understanding of my decision.  I am considering a number of possibilities for what comes next in my professional life, and in the meantime I am excited about continuing my work at NHDES.”