The former Executive Director of Mississippi’s Department of Environmental Quality, Gary Rikard, resigned from his position on January 13, 2020. Newly elected Gov. Tate Reeves (R) was sworn in the following day.

Rikard served as director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality since 2014 after former Gov. Phil Bryant (R) appointed him to the position in July of that year. Rikard is an attorney and had previously worked in the department as an attorney and environmental engineer.

Rikard is one of several Mississippi state executives to step down as part of the transition to the new gubernatorial administration. At the time of Rikard’s resignation, his replacement had not yet been announced.

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Additional reading:
Mississippi Executive Director of Environmental Quality
Energy policy in Mississippi
Tate Reeves