About the Regional Administrator for EPA's Region 7 Office in Kansas City

With nearly 40 years of experience, Jim Macy is a seasoned leader with a proven track record in environmental protection across the Heartland.

Possessing a deep commitment to both regional and national environmental leadership, he has built a career marked by innovative solutions, strong partnerships, and a relentless focus on improving public service delivery.

Throughout his career, Macy has remained deeply rooted in his community and dedicated to improving environmental resilience for future generations.

Prior to joining EPA Region 7, he served as director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), where he successfully led the integration of the state’s energy and environmental agencies into a unified department. Macy’s leadership was instrumental in fostering collaboration and improving the state’s environmental policies and practices.

He also served for nearly 30 years with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MoDNR), where he held various leadership roles, including regional director of the Kansas City Regional Office and director of the Financial Assistance Center.

Nationally, Macy made significant contributions to advancing cooperation among state and federal agencies, as well as environmental innovation. He served as president of the Environmental Council of the States (2019-2020) and co-chaired the cooperative federalism workgroup for four years. Additionally, Macy was a long-time executive member and co-chair of the E-Enterprise Leadership Council, where he championed the development of shared governance approaches and customer-centric innovations to improve permitting, compliance, and quality assurance processes.

Macy is recognized for his passion for teamwork and process improvement. At NDEE, he implemented Lean Six Sigma principles to streamline operations and establish a pioneering state network aimed at continuous improvement across partner agencies.

A native of Gallatin, Missouri, Macy holds a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and a master’s in education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was honored with the EPA National Notable Achievement Award in 2001 for his work in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) stakeholder involvement.

Macy and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 31 years. They have two daughters and a grandson. Often accompanied by his French Brittany Spaniel, Molly, he enjoys spending time outdoors fly fishing and crafting custom fly rods.