Thomas C. Voltaggio

1529 Chalet Drive
Cherry Hill NJ 08003

Voice: 856 745 1488
Fax: 856 673 0243
info@voltaggioconsulting.com

Profile

Thirty-four plus years of comprehensive experience in multiple aspects of environmental management at the federal level, including executive level leadership, scientific and technical management, budgeting and analysis, enforcement and compliance, biological and chemical environmental emergency response, homeland security terrorism response process and operations and information management and technology.

Proven ability to troubleshoot and develop creative, innovative solutions to environmental and homeland security challenges and successfully manage change for improved performance and efficiency through the use of dispute resolution skills.

Demonstrated success in conducting environmental consultation and training to foreign governments in multiple aspects of environmental management, environmental emergency response and homeland security processes and operation.

Achievement Summary

From its inception, and for over seventeen years, successfully directed the “Superfund” hazardous waste site cleanup program of the USEPA in the Middle Atlantic States through over 500 complete cleanups by 1997. During this time, became a national expert and participated in legislative and regulatory development and national program planning.

Brought about dozens of resolutions of complex environmental issues in air, water and hazardous waste fields with major corporations, state, local and federal governments through the use of detailed and profound knowledge of environmental programs and a well-developed skill in “getting to yes” environmental dispute resolution.

Managed the nation’s largest bio-chemical terrorism response when EPA was called upon to clean up the anthrax contamination on Capitol Hill in the fall of 2001.Interacted on a daily basis with the highest levels of Agency and Congressional leadership. As a result, became the leading regional spokesperson for homeland security at EPA.

Trained as a Principal Federal Official (PFO) under the National Response Plan by the Department of Homeland Security and was named Deputy Principal Federal Official (DPFO) for the New Jersey venue of the TOPOFF3 national exercise in 2005. Participated fully in TOPOFF3 as the DPFO and became knowledgeable with national terrorism response planning and operations. Deployed to New Orleans as EPA's Senior Federal Official at the national response to Hurricane Katrina.

Security Clearance

At the time of my retirement - Top Secret – SCI

Experience

United States Environmental Protection Agency -7/71-Present
Philadelphia, PA, Chicago, IL and Dallas, TX

Acting Regional Administrator - 1/01-7/01
Worked directly for the Administrator of EPA in managing the regional office during the presidential transition of the 2000 elections. Directed all regional operations and represented the administration in all public venues.

Deputy Regional Administrator - 7/98-1/01; 7/01-Present
As the highest career executive, managed an annual budget of approximately $700M and directed a staff of 900+ technical, administrative and legal employees in the regional office to implement federal environmental programs in the Middle Atlantic States. Instituted programs which dramatically improved relations between state environmental agencies and regional EPA office through intensive personal interaction. Instituted several procedures and policies which turned distrust into trust, mainly focusing on eliminating surprises and developing and implementing issue escalation processes. Ensured compliance with federal environmental laws, directed all federal compliance and enforcement staff and approved all actions and settlements of federal enforcement cases.

Director, Hazardous Waste Management Division - 2/89-6/98
Chief, Superfund Branch -2/81-1/89
Directed all hazardous waste programs in the 6 state regional office. These included the Superfund, Brownfield, Resource Conservation and Recovery, Underground Storage Tank, Emergency Response and Oil Pollution programs. During this time, the middle Atlantic region was a national leader in Superfund cleanup implementation, and was well known as having enlightened leadership regarding common sense solutions for difficult and complex problems. Directed the Brownfield program from its infancy through the current time. Developed red tape cutting procedures to speed economic development throughout the region.

Utilized knowledge of hazardous waste cleanup programs to provide assistance to foreign governments in the development of their cleanup and Brownfields programs. These consultations started in 1986 and have continued to the present. Countries assisted include Italy, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, India, Japan, Taiwan, South Africa and China. In 1988, spent two months in Italy developing an environmental waste cleanup program for the Italian government. Over several years in the mid-1990's, assisted the Czech government in developing a risk assessment and an alternatives analysis for the reclamation of an abandoned steel mill site. Provided other waste site reclamation consultations for the Hungarian and South African governments.

Stauffer Chemical Company, Fort Worth and Houston, TX - 7/68-6/71
Assistant Plant Engineer at sulfuric acid manufacturing facilities.

Education

Texas Christian University -Fort Worth, TX - 1971
Master in Management Science.

City College of New York -New York -NY - 1968
Bachelor in Chemical Engineering.