Jim Gulliford

Jim Gulliford is the Regional Administrator for the U.S. EPA’s Region 7 in Lenexa, Kan. Gulliford leads the Agency’s efforts in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine tribal nations. He has more than 40 years of experience leading environmental and natural resource protection programs in the Heartland.

Gulliford recently served as Executive Director of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, where he led the organization from 2009 to 2016. SWCS fosters the science and art of natural resource conservation on working land – land used to produce food, fiber, fuel, and other services that improve the quality of life people experience in rural and urban communities. The organization represents 3,000 scientists, researchers, educators, and conservation practitioners.

Gulliford previously served as Assistant Administrator for the EPA Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances (now the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention) from 2006 to 2009, and as Regional Administrator for EPA Region 7 from 2001 to 2006.

At the state level, Gulliford served as Director of the Division of Soil Conservation at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship from 1986 to 2001, where he was responsible for the development and management of soil conservation, water quality, and mine regulation for Iowa.

Gulliford holds a Bachelor of Science in forestry management with a minor in agronomy, and a Master of Science in forestry economics and marketing, both from Iowa State University.