Commissioner Toby Baker, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, recently became the new management chair of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, taking an active lead on behalf of the State of Texas.  This is the fourth leadership change for the regional partnership since its formation in 2004.  Texas takes over following a productive tenure by Alabama's Phillip Hinesley, Coastal Section Chief of Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.  The state leadership change became official at the Alliance Management Team meeting in early May. 

The role of the Alliance Management Team is to act on behalf of the U.S. Gulf States to oversee Alliance direction, addressing the regional issues identified as priorities by all five Gulf States.  As Texas takes leadership, the Alliance will host their 12th annual All Hands meeting on June 14-17, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

It will be the challenge of Texas to help guide the partnership to implement actions identified in the up-coming Governors' Action Plan III for Healthy and Resilient Coasts. Commissioner Baker will work closely with Executive Director, Laura Bowie, to establish an overall vision for the partnership and a foundation of support for the needs of the Priority Issue Teams.       

In case you missed it, earlier this month the Alliance released a Ten Year Summary Report that details major projects accomplished by the Alliance's six Priority Issue Teams between 2004 and 2014. It also touches on historical milestones for the organization. 

The report is accessible online www.gulfofmexicoalliance.org/10years/ where you can download a full copy of the report and an executive summary. #10years