Emma Pokon appointed to EPA Region 10 administrator
SEATTLE – Today, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that President Donald J. Trump appointed Emma Pokon to serve as EPA’s Region 10 administrator. As regional administrator, Pokon will lead the implementation of important priorities of the administration’s environmental agenda in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and with 271 federally-recognized Tribes.
“We continue to assemble an all-star team here at EPA to lead our regional offices. I am proud to welcome our newest Regional Administrator, Emma Pokon,” said Zeldin. “Emma has deep roots in Alaska and is well equipped to represent and lead EPA’s Pacific Northwest Region. From her experience in conservation and in serving her home state, I am confident in her abilities to implement the Trump Administration’s policies throughout Region 10 and Power the Great American Comeback.”
“I am humbled to be named Regional Administrator for EPA’s Pacific Northwest Region,” said Pokon. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue public service in this new role and look forward to working with EPA leadership and Region 10 to ensure balanced implementation of the nation’s environmental laws.”
Prior to joining EPA, Pokon served as commissioner for the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation since December 2023. She joined ADEC in February 2020 from the Alaska Department of Law where she most recently served as a Senior Assistant Attorney General assigned to support ADEC.
In her time with the Department of Law she worked as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General and worked closely with the Department of Natural Resources and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. Previously, she represented the North Slope Borough in natural resource and environmental matters, and she served as a law clerk for the Fairbanks Superior Court. She earned a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in chemistry from Hamilton College. She also achieved a JD and a Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School.
Here’s what people are saying about Pokon’s presidential appointment:
“I can’t think of any Alaskan better suited to oversee federal environmental regulations and laws for Alaska than Emma Pokon,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy. “She has performed an admirable job leading the Department of Environmental Conservation and protecting Alaska’s pristine land and waters, and I join Alaskans from across the state in congratulating her for her new role.”
“Emma Pokon has done outstanding work for nearly two decades on resource and conservation issues in our state, most recently as Alaska’s Environmental Conservation Commissioner, which is why I strongly recommended her to Administrator Lee Zeldin,” said Senator Dan Sullivan. “As Region 10 Administrator, Emma will be responsible for faithfully implementing federal law in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest and restoring trust in an agency that too often engaged in far-left, lawless activism under the Obama and Biden administrations. I am confident Emma is up for this important task and I look forward to working with her to carry out President Trump’s Alaska-specific executive order unleashing our state’s resources.”
“To say that I’m excited about this appointment is an understatement. I have worked with Emma for years and not only is she perfect for this role, but she also shares Idaho’s values and supports our common-sense approach to environmental protection,” said Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Director Jess Byrne. “I look forward to working with Emma to identify ways we can help each other accomplish our respective priorities.”
EPA’s Region 10 serves communities in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and 271 Tribes. Learn more about EPA Region 10’s work at https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-10-pacific-northwest. Connect with EPA’s Region 10 on Facebook, X and Instagram.