Washington, DC – Today, Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser continued to name her administration by announcing the appointment of outgoing City Council member Tommy Wells as the next Director of the District Department of the Environment (DDOE). Wells will oversee a team tasked with establishing policies to protect the environment, promote sustainability and conserve natural resources in the District of Columbia.
Currently, Wells serves as Ward 6 Council member, a position he has held since 2006. He is recognized across the District for his efforts to create a livable and walkable city for all. During his tenure, Wells championed the development of mass transit in the District, including supporting the development of streetcar lines, the expansion of the DC Circulator and advocating for the improvements of the District’s bus system. Additionally, Wells drafted landmark legislation to establish a small fee on disposable bags, thereby cleaning up the city’s environment and curbing the waste harming important waterways in the District.
“As Tommy’s friend and colleague, I have witnessed first-hand the passion he has for conservation, clean transportation and creating a more sustainable District,” said Mayor-elect Bowser. “With Tommy’s experience and enthusiasm, we will create new and innovative policies to make the District the most environmentally-friendly city in the nation.”
“Making DC a cleaner, more environmentally friendly city isn’t just a health issue – it’s an economic issue. I look forward to working with the Mayor-elect to create greater economic opportunities for more Washingtonians while also preserving our city’s environment for generations to come,” Wells said. “Having the opportunity to continue working on an issue I care so deeply about is an honor.”
Before joining the DC Council, Wells served the city as a social worker and within the DC Consortium for Child Welfare as a fierce advocate for youth in the DC foster care system.
Wells graduated from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in 1991 and earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota in 1983.
Today’s announcement came while celebrating the topping out of the new 400 E Street complex, a mixed-use building just blocks away from the National Mall that will hold a 214-room hotel, 27,000 sq. ft. of retails space and a brand new fire station.
This LEED-silver certified building is a model of green design with sustainable practices incorporated in every stage of the construction process. Collaboration between the District and the 400 E Street Team has embodied Mayor-elect Bowser’s goal of establishing longstanding public-private partnerships that will not just benefit businesses, but also the surrounding community.