Richard K. Sullivan Jr.
Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

EEA Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr.

Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. oversees the Commonwealth's six environmental, natural resource and energy regulatory agencies: the Departments of Environmental Protection, Public Utilities, Energy Resources, Conservation & Recreation, Agriculture, and Fish & Game. He also serves as Chairman of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the Energy Facilities Siting Board, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.

Under Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to combine energy and environmental agencies under one Cabinet secretary with the shared mission of bringing clean energy technology to market, curbing greenhouse gas emissions and cutting energy costs. Governor Patrick's land conservation initiative is the largest in the Commonwealth's history, with protection of more than 75,000 acres of land from 2007 to 2010.

Sworn in at the start of Governor Patrick's second term, Secretary Sullivan will build on the Patrick-Murray Administration's nation-leading first-term clean energy and environment accomplishments. EEA priorities for the Governor's second term include carrying out the nation’s most ambitious energy efficiency program - $2 billion of investment over three years, producing $6 billion in savings for consumers and businesses, supporting the growth of the clean energy sector, and maintaining the Administration's commitment to parks and land conservation are priorities for the governor’s second term.

Prior to his appointment to the cabinet post at Energy and Environmental Affairs, Secretary Sullivan served as the commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Appointed in June 2007, he ushered in a new era of transparency and accountability at DCR, with posted maintenance schedules for DCR properties and public meetings for all significant DCR initiatives and policies. Under his leadership, DCR completed several large-scale capital improvements in parks statewide, including a two-year, $21.3 million project at Mt. Greylock State Reservation in Lanesborough that featured rehabilitation of the 13.5-mile Mt. Greylock Road, and a $9 million renovation of the visitor center at Georges Island in Boston, a facility that includes a concession area, children's playground and a state-of-the-art solar-powered maintenance building. DCR also conducted a Forest Futures Visioning Process to engage residents across the Commonwealth in a discussion of forestry practices in state forests, leading to dramatic expansion of forest reserves that are protected from commercial logging.

Secretary Sullivan served as the mayor of Westfield from 1994 to 2007. In that capacity, he also served as chairman of the Westfield School Committee. In 2005, Sullivan was recognized by the New England Association of School Superintendents with its annual President Award for Exemplary Contributions to Education.

He is a past president of the Massachusetts Mayors Association, past chairman of the Turnpike Advisory Board, and a past member of the Governor’s Local Advisory Committee. He also served as founding president of the Winding River Land Conservancy, which has protected 1,700 acres in western Hampden County.

Sullivan graduated from Westfield High School and holds degrees from Bates College, and Western New England School of Law.