PHILADELPHIA (Aug. 27, 2024) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Khesha Reed as the permanent Deputy Director for EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office (CBPO), located in Annapolis, Maryland, where she has been the Acting Deputy Director since April 2024. During this time, she has focused on strengthening administrative processes of the office, as well as serving as the liaison to the Local Government Advisory Committee.

Reed has been with the agency for more than twenty years, holding several senior leadership positions. Prior to joining CBPO, she was the Deputy Director of the Standards and Health Protection Division in the Office of Science and Technology within the Office of Water (OW).  Khesha oversaw administrative, budget operations and human capital planning for the office.  In addition, she led an internal workgroup responsible for coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration on issuing advice about fish consumption.

Before OW, Khesha was the Deputy Director of the Office of Children’s Health.  The office is responsible for ensuring that all EPA activities, including regulations, policies, research, and outreach appropriately consider children’s environmental health issues.  Khesha led the office’s strategic planning activities and was the coordinator for external audits.

Khesha received her B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and her M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University.

For more information about the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, visit our Chesapeake Bay website.