Skip to content
Our Ocean 2023 logo

Brenda Mallory

Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), White House 

Brenda Mallory speaker image

Chair Mallory was confirmed on April 14, 2021 as the 12th Chair of the CEQ. Mallory advises the President on environmental and natural resources policies that improve, preserve, and protect public health and the environment for America’s communities.

She is focused particularly on addressing the environmental justice and climate change challenges the nation faces while advancing opportunities for job growth and economic development.

In her previous role, as the ranking career official in EPA’s Office of General Counsel (OGC), Mallory served as the chief operating officer for OGC and led operational efforts focused on Environmental Justice and diversity initiatives. In Mallory’s first stint at CEQ as the General Counsel, she helped shepherd many of President Obama’s signature environmental and natural resource policy successes to completion.

Now having returned to CEQ, Mallory is looking to reinvigorate CEQ’s important environmental policy role in service of President Biden’s agenda. She is committed to working with all stakeholders to advance efficient permitting approaches that engage affected communities and that help avoid, minimize, or mitigate the environmental impacts of decisions.

Mallory earned her B.A. from Yale College and her J.D. from Columbia Law School. Mallory and her husband Mark live in Rockville, MD. They have three adult children.