Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force
Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of Army (Civil Works), Department of Defense
Ms. Jo-Ellen Darcy, the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), establishes policy direction and provides supervision of the Department of the Army functions relating to all aspects of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers' Civil Works program, including all reimbursable work performed on behalf of Federal and non-Federal entities. These responsibilities include programs for conservation and development of the nation's water and wetland resources, flood control, navigation, and shore protection.
On August 11, 2009 President Barack Obama appointed Jo-Ellen Darcy as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) following confirmation by the Senate. Prior to her appointment, Jo-Ellen Darcy was the Senior Environmental Advisor to the Senate Finance Committee, responsible for environment, conservation and energy issues. Previously, she was Senior Policy Advisor to the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, concentrating on water resource and conservation issues involving the Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as nominations for presidentially-appointed positions. At the start of the 107th Congress, she was the Deputy Staff Director for the EPW Committee. From 1993 through 2000, she served as a professional staff member on the EPW Committee, working on a variety of issues, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, Army Corps of Engineers programs, FEMA, Everglades restoration and the Clean Water Act.
Before joining the EPW Committee, Jo-Ellen was legislative representative for the Investment Company Institute, the trade association representing the mutual fund industry. She worked on water resources and transportation issues for Governor Jim Blanchard of Michigan in both Lansing and Washington, D.C. Previously, she worked for the Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization of the House Banking Committee and was an elementary school teacher.
She hails from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and has a B.A. in philosophy and sociology from Boston College and a M.S. in resource development from Michigan State University.