SALT LAKE CITY — Scott Baird, interim executive director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, has been given the job for the foreseeable future.
In a statement announcing the move Wednesday, Gov. Gary Herbert called Baird an invaluable adviser, adding, “his contributions in this new role will be crucial to my administration’s efforts to combat environmental challenges and ensure that all Utahns can enjoy the very highest quality of life.”
Baird, who has been with the department since 2014, was appointed as the interim executive director in June after Alan Matheson stepped down to oversee the development of the Draper prison site.
Baird was first appointed to serve as the department’s director of legislative and government affairs and later as deputy director, overseeing policy, planning and operational improvement.
Before joining the department, Baird worked in the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, where he provided several state agencies — including DEQ — with training and guidance on improving operations.
Previously, he worked in the Washington State Governor’s Office of Financial Management, the Washington State’s Auditor’s Office, and at Deloitte Consulting, where he helped state and federal agencies improve operations and achieve better outcomes.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.