Mike D. McDaniel, Ph.D.

LSU Center for Environmental & Energy Research

Dr. McDaniel works as a professional-in-residence at the Center for Energy Studies. He is an environmental scientist with more than 35 years of professional experience in environmental investigations and regulatory compliance matters. His research interests at the Center are related to energy and the environment, global climate change, alternative energy/fuels, and environmental policy/regulation.

From January 2004 to January 2008, Dr. McDaniel served as secretary for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). With this appointment, he was responsible for management and technical direction of an agency of nearly 950 employees and a budget of approximately $150 million. He was also responsible for representing the agency before the governor, the Louisiana legislature, and the public. During his tenure as secretary of LDEQ, Dr. McDaniel launched a number of major environmental initiatives for the State of Louisiana, including the Louisiana Clean Waters Program, Mercury Risk Reduction Program, and ozone attainment/maintenance efforts for the state. He also oversaw LDEQ's response to the extraordinary environmental challenges brought by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. As a result of the hurricane response experience, he was asked to provide testimony before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security.

Over the past 15 years, he has had a significant role in facilitating air quality improvements and promoting alternative energy through volunteer efforts of the Baton Rouge Clean Air Coalition and the Greater Baton Rouge Clean Cities Coalition, respectively. He has also served as an appointed member of the Governor's Task Force on Environmental Protection and Preservation, the Governor's Mississippi River Corridor Task Force, the Governor's Interagency Task Force on Flood Prevention and Mitigation, and the Amite River Basin Commission. He is a past director for the Louisiana Section of Air and Waste Management Association; VP for Woodward-Clyde Consultants; Department of Environmental Quality Assistant Secretary for Office of Air Quality and Radiation Protection.

Dr. McDaniel received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Northwestern State University at Natchitoches, La., and received his Ph.D. degree in biology from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas.