Gov. Kelly Armstrong has appointed Jennifer Turnbow, an engineering executive, to lead the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality. Turnbow, previously the senior director of business operations and field services at Ulteig Engineers, is set to begin her new role on October 6. Her appointment comes as the state agency continues its work overseeing critical environmental standards that directly impact residents across Bismarck, Mandan, and broader Burleigh and Morton counties.
The North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is responsible for a range of functions vital to the state’s natural resources and the health of its communities. The department issues permits for air quality, permits for drainage, and permits for water discharge. Beyond permitting, the DEQ also actively monitors environmental quality throughout North Dakota. These responsibilities are essential for maintaining the clean air, land, and water that residents rely on daily.
Turnbow brings a diverse professional background to her new position. Before her tenure at Ulteig Engineers, she served as the director of planning for the North Dakota Department of Transportation from 2021 to 2022. Earlier in her career, Turnbow was the director of environmental services for KLJ, an engineering firm based in Bismarck. Academically, Turnbow is a native of New Salem in western North Dakota. She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Idaho and furthered her education with a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Grand Canyon University.
Governor Armstrong expressed confidence in Turnbow’s qualifications and dedication to the state's environmental future. In a news release, Armstrong stated that North Dakota citizens will gain from Turnbow's "deep understanding of the relationship between our state’s infrastructure, industry and natural resources." The governor further emphasized Turnbow's commitment to environmental stewardship, which Armstrong noted helps North Dakota maintain some of the cleanest air, land, and water in the nation.
Turnbow succeeds Dave Glatt, who retired from the director position on July 31 after a 43-year career in state government. Following Glatt’s retirement, Beth Jacobson served as the interim director for the Department of Environmental Quality. Jacobson, who held this interim role since July 31, will now return to her permanent position as the director of accounting at the DEQ.