Return to EnviroLinks Newsletter

Did you know that the Bureau for Global Health (GH) has a new Bureau Environmental Officer (BEO)? Dennis Durbin officially became the GH BEO this past August, and he plays a key role in overseeing and monitoring environmental compliance across GH-managed acquisition and assistance mechanisms. The GH EnviroLinks team recently sat down with Dennis to find out more about his background and his current role as the GH BEO.

GH EnviroLinks: Could you tell us a little about your background and experience in the environmental field?

Dennis Durbin: I joined the US Peace Corps in 1991 after completing my studies at Ohio University. I worked in the agroforestry program in Totonicapan, Guatemala. My main project was the establishment of a Christmas tree plantation. The Guatemala fir tree is the traditional Christmas tree and is often cut from natural forests to use as a Christmas adornment. The idea was to establish a plantation in order to protect the naturally-growing trees in the forest while also providing income generation for the community.

After the Peace Corps, I worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the Clean Water Act regulatory program for the protection of aquatic resources. I covered the eastern Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands region. This job combined a lot of field work with traditional desk work, performing environmental assessments and verifying mitigation activities.

After some freelance environmental consulting work in Puerto Rico, I took a position with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as an ecologist. I worked extensively in wildlife and vehicle traffic interactions, as well as aquatic resource issues.

From FHWA, I took a position as the BEO for USAID’s Bureau for Management, working on environmental policy issues and sustainability issues. I transferred to being the GH BEO in August of 2018.

GH: What is your favorite part about working for USAID?

DD: The varied issues that arise in development activities keep work very interesting. For example, when I was with the FHWA my scope was narrow, working only at the intersection of transportation and ecology. USAID has a broader scope of activities that impact the environment. However, getting out in the field and participating in TDYs with Mission staff, environmental compliance staff, and Implementing Partners is definitely a highlight as well.

GH: What are some of the main environmental compliance challenges you have encountered so far for GH projects and activities?

DD: Environmental compliance procedures are well established at USAID, which is a positive. Issues of medical waste management and disposal are recurring and widespread. The GH environmental compliance support team is currently undertaking a full revision of the Healthcare Waste Management chapter of our Sector Environmental Guidelines and conducting an incinerator inventory to better address the issues of healthcare waste in the project and activity planning/design stage. 

GH: What do you wish other people knew about GH’s environmental program?

DD: I think the GH environmental program is proactive in reaching out to GH staff and our Implementing Partners. We would like to continue reviewing and evaluating implementation of environmental mitigation measures of certain high-risk programs to ascertain the effectiveness of these measures.

GH: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not busy being the GH BEO?

DD: I enjoy spending time with my wife. I also play guitar in a local band that should be ready to perform in public this coming year.