New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today announced four key appointments to leadership positions. 

“I am pleased to announce three key promotions and an exceptional addition to DEC’s leadership team that will ensure our continued success protecting the environment and serving New Yorkers with compassion and integrity,” Commissioner Lefton said. “DEC is proud to welcome Sanjay Seth and to elevate Patrick Foster, Logan Hardy, and Emily Lenney to build on their valuable contributions at a time when our team is working harder than ever to safeguard New York’s air, land, and water.” 

Sanjay Seth was appointed as DEC’s Deputy Commissioner for Climate, Air, and Energy. Seth most recently served as Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for Climate and Equity for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1, where he advanced policies and programs that supported climate action and environmental justice in New England. Over his career, Seth also worked on municipal climate resilience projects for the cities of Boston and New York and lectured on climate, urban planning, and public policy at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. While at Harvard, he founded the Climate Leaders Program, a year-long interdisciplinary program for students with a professional interest in climate action. Seth was also co-founder and co-president of Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment, a 3,000-member not-for-profit organization affiliated with the Harvard Alumni Association. Originally from Bismarck, North Dakota, Seth holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, politics, and public policy from Goldsmiths College, University of London, a master's degree in urban planning from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and a master's degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. 

Patrick Foster will continue to serve DEC as our new Deputy Commissioner for Sustainable Development. In this role he will now oversee DEC’s Division of Environmental Permits and Regional Affairs in addition to his work overseeing the Divisions of Materials Management, Environmental Remediation, and Mineral Resources, and the Office of Sustainability. Foster will also serve as executive lead for Special Projects within the Sustainable Development portfolio. He started with DEC in 2013 as an Assistant Regional Attorney in Region 9 (Western New York), before becoming an attorney in DEC’s Central Office where he helped establish the multidisciplinary Natural Resource Damages Section in the Office of General Counsel. Foster also served as DEC Region 2 (New York City) Regional Director and Regional Attorney and recently served as DEC’s Acting General Counsel. He has taught environmental policy at St. John’s University and administrative law at the City University of New York School of Law where he continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor teaching environmental law. Foster is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, and received his graduate and law degrees from the City University of New York. 

Logan Hardy was appointed as Director of DEC’s Office of State Legislative Affairs. Hardy joined DEC in 2022 as a Legislative Analyst and has served as Deputy Director of State Legislative Affairs since 2023. He will oversee managing DEC’s State legislative agenda and advocating for environmental priorities, as well as communicating on behalf of the agency with the New York State Legislature. Over the past year, Hardy was responsible for coordinating DEC’s budget proposals, including the reauthorization of the $1.25 billion State Superfund cleanup program. Prior to joining DEC, Hardy served as a Legislative Director and Analyst to the Chair and Committee Clerk for the State Assembly Judiciary Committee. He has a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the College of Saint Rose and served as an Information Systems Technician 2^nd Class Petty Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard from 2004 to 2008. 

Emily Lenney was appointed Deputy Director of the Office of State Legislative Affairs. Lenney joined DEC as a Legislative Analyst in 2023. She coordinates with DEC staff to develop draft legislative and administrative positions and communicate with the Legislature on constituent inquiries and updates. Prior to joining DEC, Lenney served as a legislative budget analyst for the New York State Assembly Ways and Means Committee. Lenney has a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and outdoor recreation education from Western State Colorado University and received a master’s degree in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School in 2019.