Episode 7

Sally Gutierrez

Sally C. Gutierrez is the Director of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Technology Innovation Cluster Development and Support Program within the Office of Research and Development (ORD). This new effort seeks to advance environmental protection in tandem with economic development through the formation of community based public private partnerships. She has been leading EPA’s efforts to leverage its research and development capability in Cincinnati, Ohio with community based assets to establish the region as a water technology innovation hub and is leading an effort to network water innovation clusters across the U.S. (http://www2.epa.gov/clusters-program).

Prior to this new appointment, she was the Director of the National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) in Cincinnati, Ohio for 8 years. NRMRL is one of three Federal research laboratories within the USEPA’s ORD and consists of 400 scientists and support staff. The Laboratory is responsible for conducting engineering and environmental technology research to support the Agency in policy and regulatory development and implementation.

She was the Director of the Water Supply and Water Resources Division in NRMRL before becoming its Director and was responsible for leading a national technology demonstration program for control of arsenic in drinking water. Before coming to EPA she was responsible for administering water programs for the State of Texas environmental agency in the areas of drinking water, water monitoring, wastewater permitting, dam safety, water rights and utility rates.

As a member of the Senior Executive Service, she holds the highest career rank in the Federal government. In 2015, she was awarded the Federal Laboratory Consortium’s “Laboratory Director of the Year” and the Cincinnati area YWCA Career Woman of Achievement award.