Miles Tolbert
Encyclopedia
Miles Tolbert is an American lawyer
from the state of Oklahoma
who served as the Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment
under Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
. Tolbert was appointed by Henry in 2003 and served until his resignation in 2008. Tolbert was succeeded by J.D. Strong
, Tolbert's chief of staff
, as Secretary.
as an attorney
to eventually become the chief of the Environmental Protection Unit. He has also practiced law in Washington, D.C.
, as an attorney for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division
of the United States Department of Justice
. At the time of his appointment in 2003, Tolbert was the president-elect of the Oklahoma Bar Association's environmental law section and a member of the Crowe and Dunlevy, an Oklahoma City
-based law firm.
-elect Brad Henry
announced that he would appoint Tolbert to serve as his Secretary of the Evironment
. As the Secretary, Tolbert was charged with the protection and enhancement of Oklahoma's environment and natural resources through preservation, conservation, restoration, education and enforcement in order to maintain and improve the environmental quality and natural beauty of our state and better the standard of living for all Oklahomans. He had supervision over the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board
.
In August, 2008, Tolbert resigned as Secretary in order to return to private practice. Governor Henry appointed J.D. Strong
, longtime staffer in the Office of the Secretary and Tolbert's then chief of staff
, to serve as Tolbert's successor.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
from the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
who served as the Oklahoma Secretary of the Environment
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
under Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
. Tolbert was appointed by Henry in 2003 and served until his resignation in 2008. Tolbert was succeeded by J.D. Strong
J.D. Strong
J.D. Strong is a civil servant from the US state of Oklahoma and the current Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.-Education and early career:...
, Tolbert's chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
, as Secretary.
Early career
Tolbert joined the Office of the Oklahoma Attorney GeneralAttorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...
as an attorney
Attorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
to eventually become the chief of the Environmental Protection Unit. He has also practiced law in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, as an attorney for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division
United States Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division
The U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division is one of seven litigating components of the United States Department of Justice...
of the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
. At the time of his appointment in 2003, Tolbert was the president-elect of the Oklahoma Bar Association's environmental law section and a member of the Crowe and Dunlevy, an Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
-based law firm.
Secretary of the Environment
On January 10, 2003, Governor of OklahomaGovernor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
-elect Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
announced that he would appoint Tolbert to serve as his Secretary of the Evironment
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
. As the Secretary, Tolbert was charged with the protection and enhancement of Oklahoma's environment and natural resources through preservation, conservation, restoration, education and enforcement in order to maintain and improve the environmental quality and natural beauty of our state and better the standard of living for all Oklahomans. He had supervision over the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is a department of the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. It is responsible for protecting human health and for safeguarding the natural environment: air, water, and land. DEQ is chiefly responsible for the environmental policy...
, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is an agency of the state of Oklahoma responsible for managing and protecting Oklahoma's wildlife population and their habitats. The Department is under the control of the Wildlife Conservation Commission, an 8-member board appointed by the Governor...
and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board
Oklahoma Water Resources Board
The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is an agency in the government of Oklahoma under the Governor of Oklahoma. OWRB is responsible for managing and protection the water resources of Oklahoma as well as for planning for the state's long-range water needs. The Board is composed of nine members...
.
In August, 2008, Tolbert resigned as Secretary in order to return to private practice. Governor Henry appointed J.D. Strong
J.D. Strong
J.D. Strong is a civil servant from the US state of Oklahoma and the current Executive Director of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board.-Education and early career:...
, longtime staffer in the Office of the Secretary and Tolbert's then chief of staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
, to serve as Tolbert's successor.