State Senate confirms Basil Seggos as new DEC commissioner

Seggos becomes 15th commissioner of state's environmental agency

Basil Seggos was unanimously confirmed by the State Senate and has become the 15th commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Seggos previously served as both deputy secretary for the environment and assistant secretary for the environment for Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to lead this great agency as we continue to protect and preserve the state's land, air and water resources for future generations," Seggos said. "Gov. Cuomo has built one of the strongest environmental records in the nation, and I look forward to working with the Senate, Assembly and all New Yorkers to build on this legacy and tackle the emerging threats facing our natural resources."

Since 2012, Seggos has advised the governor on environmental policy and overseeing the operations of the state's environmental agencies, including DEC, the Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Environmental Facilities Corp. and the Adirondack Park Agency.

Prior to working in the governor's office, Seggos served as vice president of business development at the clean-tech private equity company Hugo Neu Corp., chief investigator and attorney at Riverkeeper, associate at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and as a legal clerk at the White House.

Seggos graduated from Pace Law School in 2001, where he received the environmental law award and alumni achievement award, and from Trinity College in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts. Seggos is a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General's Corps.