Gov. Armstrong appoints new director of state’s Department of Environmental Quality

Gov. Armstrong appoints new director of state’s Department of Environmental Quality

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Gov. Kelly Armstrong appointed a new director of the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.

Jennifer Turnbow, senior director of business operations and field services at Ulteig Engineers, has extensive experience with environmental services and state government during her 23-year career in the private and public sectors.

“Jen brings more than two decades of experience in the environmental, engineering, infrastructure and transportation sectors, with a proven track record of leading organizations and overseeing complex projects across North Dakota,” Armstrong said.

Turnbow will assume her new role on Oct. 6, becoming just the second director of the department since it became a standalone agency in 2019. The previous director, Dave Glatt, retired July 31 after a 43-year career in state government.

A native of New Salem, N.D., Turnbow earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Idaho and a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Phoenix-based Grand Canyon University. She is a past president of the North Dakota chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar and completed senior executive training from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

Beth Jacobson, who has served as the department’s interim director since Glatt retired on July 31, will return to her role as director of accounting at the department.

The department is charged with protecting the state’s air, land and water resources through science-based regulation and state and federal environmental laws. It oversees environmental permitting, compliance monitoring and pollution control.

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