Regina McCarthy was born on May 3,1954 and is an American air quality expert who served as the first White House national climate advisor from 2021 to 2022.
28 Facts About Gina McCarthy
2.
Gina McCarthy previously served as the thirteenth Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2013 to 2017.
3.
Gina McCarthy was a civil servant in the Massachusetts state government, holding various environmental roles and serving as an environmental advisor to the Governor of Massachusetts.
4.
Gina McCarthy served as commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection from 2004 to 2009 before joining the EPA in 2009.
5.
On March 4,2013, President Barack Obama nominated Gina McCarthy to replace Lisa Jackson as EPA administrator.
6.
In early 2020, Gina McCarthy became president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
7.
Gina McCarthy stepped down from her role on September 16,2022.
8.
Gina McCarthy has Irish ancestry, and grew up in a working-class family.
9.
Gina McCarthy graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Anthropology.
10.
Gina McCarthy later attended Tufts University, where she received a Master of Science combining Environmental Health Engineering with Planning and Policy in 1981.
11.
Gina McCarthy started her health and environment career in 1980, serving as the city of Canton's health agent.
12.
Gina McCarthy held several top positions in the civil service of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including undersecretary for policy for Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs from 1999 to 2003 and Deputy Secretary of the Massachusetts Office of Commonwealth Development from 2003 to 2004.
13.
Gina McCarthy has worked on environmental issues at the state and local levels and has developed policies on economic growth, energy, transportation and the environment.
14.
Gina McCarthy has served as environmental adviser to five Massachusetts governors, including former Governor Mitt Romney.
15.
Gina McCarthy stepped down in 2009 to join the Obama administration.
16.
On March 16,2009, President Barack Obama nominated Gina McCarthy to serve as assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation.
17.
Gina McCarthy was confirmed by the Senate on June 2,2009, and served until her confirmation as EPA administrator in 2013.
18.
On March 4,2013, Obama nominated Gina McCarthy to replace Lisa Jackson as EPA administrator.
19.
On May 27,2015, Gina McCarthy finalized a rule under the Clean Water Act which proposed a new detailed and inclusive definition of "waters of the United States".
20.
On June 25,2015, Gina McCarthy finalized the Clean Power Plan under the Clean Air Act, seeking to reduce coal use pursuant to the Paris Agreement.
21.
Gina McCarthy insisted the EPA had done nothing wrong and that "there is no way my agency created this problem"; she was at times shouted down by outraged members of Congress.
22.
In 2017, Gina McCarthy joined Pegasus Capital Advisors, a private equity firm, where she serves as an operating advisor focused on sustainability and wellness investments.
23.
Gina McCarthy taught a course there in the Department of Environmental Health titled, "Environmental Leadership: Integrating Science, Public Policy, and Political Rhetoric".
24.
In November 2019, Gina McCarthy was appointed president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, effective early 2020.
25.
Gina McCarthy serves as Biden's chief advisor on domestic climate change policy.
26.
Gina McCarthy said she was initially reluctant to join the administration until Biden adopted a broad view of climate change.
27.
Gina McCarthy said that when Biden as a candidate for president "made the connection between climate and health and environmental and racial justice, and he framed it in terms of what needed to be done after the pandemic for job growth" she was persuaded and "energized".
28.
Gina McCarthy is a fan of the Barefoot Contessa cooking show.