May 2003

JOHN H. HUGHES
DNREC Secretary

Don't be taken in when John Hughes talks about starting at DNREC as a dredge operator. He certainly knew his way around a dredge in 1970, but he also owned a dredging company and he managed the State's dredging program for 12 years. He was also a zookeeper at the National Zoo in Washington. That was before he was Mayor of Rehoboth Beach.

Don't be taken in, either, by his down-home way with words and his aw-shucks way of disarming a listener. His B.A. is in English, and from Georgetown University. He served 13 years in elective office and he's been at the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for 33 years, 18 as Director for the Division of Soil & Water Conservation.

He not only knows his way around a dredge, words, politics, and DNREC, but also, is astute in dealing with people, quick to cut to the core of issues, and ready to make necessary decisions. He has brought to DNREC, as would be expected, the desire to protect Delaware's environment. He has brought, as well, an understanding that environmental protection can be in partnership with, not merely in opposition to, economic development. He understands that unworkable obstructive processes need to be replaced with user-friendly ones so that the State and businesses, together, can get things done.

When John A. Hughes was confirmed as the eighth Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control on October 10, 2002, Delaware got an environmental advocate and a leader ready to take on the management of a Depart-ment many have come to believe is unmanageable. It also got a charming, blunt, colorful, spirit who is always interesting.

John will share his vision for DNREC and his plans for making it more user-friendly.

Beverley Baxter