Philosophy
 JAMES STROCKAdvisory Board Clean Technology & Sustainability James Strock is a longtime American leader in sustainability. Throughout his career, he has served as a change agent, advancing environmental improvement using the power of markets. His firm, James Strock & Co., serves clients across the U.S. and around the world. Their work ranges from analyzing, financing, permitting and commercializing green technologies; to assisting companies seeking to achieve leadership roles on energy and environment through changes in business strategy; to limiting environmental liabilities. Mr. Strock is a frequent speaker and commentator on sustainability issues across the world, including the linkage between environment, energy, economic and national security. He is a signer of the Set America Free petition, and a member of the Committee on the Present Danger. Prior to establishing his company in 1997, Strock served in Governor Pete Wilson’s cabinet as the founding Secretary for Environmental Protection. He implemented the Governor’s vision of the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA), which was approved in 1991. Mr. Strock established and led an agency comprising more than 4,000 employees and an $800 million budget, whose regulations and policies have global environmental, energy and economic impact. During his tenure, major advances were achieved in protection of air, land and water. In the face of the challenges of the early 1990s recession, the Agency reframed longstanding debates on environment and economy, advancing high environmental standards while reforming bureaucratic process. Highlights include the adjudication and restoration of Mono Lake; significant reductions in air pollution from mobile and stationary sources; reform of pesticide regulations; and international initiatives ranging from participation in the negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement and other issues with Mexico, to enhanced cooperation with Germany, China and other nations. Among the Agency's numerous recognitions during his tenure was a $100,000 "Innovation" award from Harvard University and the Ford Foundation, presented by President Clinton at the White House, citing the agency’s environmental technology leadership. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush appointed, and the U.S. Senate confirmed Mr. Strock to serve as Assistant Administrator for Enforcement (chief law enforcement officer) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Reporting to Administrator William K. Reilly, Mr. Strock led a major expansion and reorganization of the national program, while simultaneously driving civil and criminal enforcement to record levels. He introduced innovations such as "supplemental environmental projects" (directing violators’ penalties to environmental improvement rather than government treasuries,) and expanded use of alternative dispute resolution. His office was instrumental in the development and passage of the Lieberman-Wilson Pollution Prosecution Act of 1990, historic legislation signed by President Bush, which expanded both civil and criminal enforcement over the following decade. Mr. Strock is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Authors Guild, is a senior fellow of the Pacific Research Institute, and is a trustee of the Theodore Roosevelt Association. In 2003 Mr. Strock was a member of California Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger's environmental transition team. He is a member of the advisory board of the Global Nature Fund/Living Lakes Network (Germany). Past board service includes Enova Systems, Inc. and the Environmental Law Institute. Mr. Strock also served as general counsel and acting director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, member of the California State Personnel Board, counsel to the U.S. Senate Environment & Public Works Committee, and a lawyer in private practice. Among the many recognitions he has received are the Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship (India), the commendation of the California District Attorneys Association for environmental law enforcement, and the Ross Essay Award of the American Bar Association ($10,000 prize for article on toxic victims compensation). Mr. Strock was educated at public and private schools in Austin, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and at Harvard College (Phi Beta Kappa) and Harvard Law School. He studied literature at New College, Oxford, on a Rotary Scholarship. He served to captain in the USARJAGC. |