AEMC Appoints Edward F. Poolos as New ADEM Director
The Alabama Environmental Management Commission (AEMC) has officially appointed Edward F. Poolos as the new director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). This decision came during a public meeting on Friday, where Poolos was selected from four finalists.
Poolos, who has served as deputy commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) for the past eight years, outshone other candidates including ADEM’s Field Operations Division Chief Anthony Scott Hughes, former Governor Robert Bentley’s chief of staff David A. Perry, and Coffee County Environmental Services Director James “Mike” Thornton. The AEMC initially considered ten applicants to fill the role of former ADEM Director Lance LeFleur, who retired in May after a notable 15-year tenure.
With a robust background, Poolos has spent 25 years with ADEM, including 17 years in a managerial position in the North Alabama Field Office. Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, he remarked, "I really look forward to returning to ADEM. I know the Department well — its dedicated staff and its mission." Poolos emphasized his commitment to improving ADEM, safeguarding the environment, and prioritizing the health of all Alabamians.
He added, “ADEM and ADCNR have two big things in common — serving the people and protecting the environment,” underscoring his dedication to both organizations’ missions. The exact start date for Poolos in his new role at ADEM has yet to be announced.
This leadership change comes at a critical time as ADEM continues its focus on environmental protection for the state of Alabama.
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