By Don Snemis, Ice Miller LLP and Vincent Kesic, IU McKinney 3L
Please join us in welcoming Brian Rockensuess as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). After graduating from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Rockensuess continued his education by obtaining his Master's of Public Administration from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. He began working for the Indiana State Senate as an intern and then Senate receptionist in 2008. Rockensuess quickly moved up to Legislative Assistant and Floor Supervisor, where he worked with Senators Susan Glick and Michael Crider and supervised five other legislative assistants and six interns.
In 2013, Rockensuess moved to IDEM as Business, Agriculture and Legislative Liaison. He was promoted to Director of Government Affairs in 2016. When Bruno Pigott became Commissioner of IDEM in 2017, he chose Rockensuess to replace him as Chief of Staff. He held that position for nearly five years. When Pigott left IDEM for the US Environmental Protection Agency, Rockensuess was appointed Interim Commissioner. Recently, Governor Eric Holcomb removed the “Interim” tag and made Rockensuess Commissioner of IDEM.
In addition to his experience with the Indiana government, Rockensuess volunteers with Fountains of Hope. That organization’s goal is to provide marginalized communities with clean and safe water systems.
The Environmental Section of the Indianapolis Bar Association congratulates Commissioner Rockensuess and our members look forward to working with him.
If you would like to submit content or write an article for the Environmental Law Section, please email Kara Sikorski at ksikorski@indybar.org.
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