RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - Donald van der Vaart will replace John Skvarla as the next secretary for the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Van der Vaart currently serves as deputy secretary and energy policy advisor for the agency.

Skvarla is taking the helm of the N.C. Department of Commerce when Secretary Sharon Decker leaves at the end of December.

Gov. Pat McCrory made the van der Vaart appointment.

“Don van der Vaart possesses extensive knowledge of environmental regulations and will continue DENR’s focus on protecting our environment while helping to maintain the economic resurgence that our state has seen since 2013,” said McCrory in a statement. “Van der Vaart’s scientific and academic credentials alone are remarkable, but he also has the real-world experience to ensure that North Carolina continues to implement common-sense solutions based on science.”

 
Van der Vaart was a longtime manager in the department before he was named deputy secretary. He has an extensive background in energy, environmental and regulatory work in academia, state government and the private sector.

Before serving as deputy secretary and energy policy advisor, van der Vaart worked as an engineering supervisor and later a program manager for the N.C. Division of Air Quality. He is an adjunct professor in engineering at N.C. State University, where he also teaches environmental policy and law. His previous work includes scientific research at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and at Research Triangle Institute (now RTI International). Van der Vaart has also worked in the energy and utility sectors.