Denise M. Sheehan
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation DEC Commissioner
Denise Sheehan was named Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on November 29, 2005. She had served as Acting Commissioner since February 2005. Ms. Sheehan has 19 years of experience working in New York State government, and she has served in various capacities at DEC since 1998. Prior to becoming Commissioner, Ms. Sheehan held the position of Executive Deputy Commissioner for three years where she was responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Department and providing policy direction to the Department’s senior staff.
Ms. Sheehan also formerly served as the Department’s Assistant Commissioner for Administration, responsible for the Divisions of Operations, Management and Budget, Information Services, Environmental Permits, and Public Affairs and Education.
Prior to joining DEC, Ms. Sheehan worked at the NYS Division of the Budget for 11 years, where she was responsible for overseeing the budgets of the State’s environmental, recreational, and energy agencies. In that capacity, she also worked on legislation to establish the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act and the Environmental Protection Fund.
In her capacity as DEC Commissioner, Ms. Sheehan serves on a variety of state boards and commissions, including the Environmental Facilities Corporation, where she serves as the Chairperson; the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority; Adirondack Park Agency; Olympic Regional Development Authority and the Hudson River Park Trust.
Ms. Sheehan earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Political Science from the State University of New York College at Oneonta. She is a life-long resident of New York’s Capital Region, and enjoys outdoor recreational activities including fishing, hiking, camping and skiing throughout the state. She resides in Niskayuna, New York with her husband, Michael Miller.