CARB announces new Director of Office of Community Air Protection

CARB Executive Officer Richard W. Corey recently announced the appointment of Deldi Reyes as the new Director of the Office of Community Air Protection (DOCAP). Reyes will oversee all activities related to CARB’s implementation of the Community Air Protection Program (CAPP) the community-focused program established under AB 617 to more effectively reduce exposure to air pollution and preserve public health.

“Deldi’s extensive regulatory program and mentoring experience will be a tremendous asset for building on the successful implementation of the Community Air Protection Program since its launch in 2017,” said Corey. “She has an impressive track record of running key programs at the federal and state level, especially equity-focused efforts.”

Most recently Reyes was the Environmental Justice Program Manager at CalEPA where she co-led a 30-person cross-BDO racial equity team in implementing an action plan focused on goals to increase workforce equity, build workforce capacity to address structural racism and improve delivery of language access services. She’s trained thousands of state and federal employees on environmental justice and in the last two years, on racial equity. She recruited a cohort of trainer candidates to build capacity for training across all CalEPA Boards, Departments and Offices (BDO).

Reyes has supported core racial equity teams within OEHHA and the State Water Board and helped develop CalEPA’s Affinity Groups program — an effort to create safe space for Black, brown, indigenous and other marginalized employee groups to come together for support and fellowship. Over the course of her career, Deldi has mentored almost a hundred student interns, primarily youth of color.

”The promise of the Community Air Protection Act is that no community will be left behind,” said Reyes. “I’m humbled by the opportunity to help fulfill that promise in partnership with community leaders, air districts, local land use decision makers and business and industry. We must apply the lessons of anti-racism in our work to benefit all community members disproportionately impacted by air pollution.”

Prior to her work within CalEPA, Reyes held regulatory positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforcing permits under the Clean Water Act and making applicability determinations under the Clean Air Act’s Maximum Achievable Control Technology regulations. As a team lead and supervisor, she managed diverse teams of engineers, scientists, outreach specialists and those with public health backgrounds. While at U.S. EPA, she served as team lead for the Community Action for a Renewed Environment program, which supported communities across the country with funding to address community priorities through collaborative problem-solving.

Reyes starts Feb. 1 and will represent CARB before the Board, the Legislature, in public meetings and workshops, and in-person meetings. She will report to Chanell Fletcher, Deputy Executive Officer of Environmental Justice.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in science from Wesleyan College in Texas and her Master of Environmental Science from Oklahoma State University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and birding, and spending time with her dogs, rescue Greyhounds from the race industry.