The Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute announced David Paylor, Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), as the recipient of the 2015 Gerald P. McCarthy Award for Leadership in Environmental Conflict Resolution. The VNRLI presents the McCarthy Award annually to an individual who demonstrates leadership in preserving and protecting the Commonwealth's environment through collaboration.
For over 40 years, David has promoted environmental stewardship in his roles within Virginia’s government. He is regarded as an influential leader who has helped the state to face some of its greatest environmental challenges, including the effort to address nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and implementation of the Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Since 2006, Mr. Paylor has served in his role as Director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) where he has demonstrated creative vision in natural resource protection. His dedication to stakeholder engagement and collaborative problem solving has led to significant achievements in the areas of renewable energy permitting and water supply and groundwater management, to name but a few.
In recognition of a career that exemplifies the use of collaboration and conflict resolution, David Paylor, is the recipient of the 2015 McCarthy Award.