Carlos Rubinstein
Along with his two fellow full-time commissioners, Rubinstein establishes overall agency direction and policy, and makes final determinations on contested permitting and enforcement matters.
Rubinstein is a member of the Western States Water Council and serves on its executive committee, and is a member of the Environmental Flows Advisory Group. He also serves as the Texas representative on the Environmental Council of States and the Border Governors Sustainable Development Worktable.
In addition, Rubinstein serves on the Governmental Advisory Committee that provides advice to the EPA Administrator on environmental concerns regarding NAFTA, the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. He most recently became a member of the Good Neighbor Environmental Board. The GNEB advises the president and congress on environmental and infrastructure issues along the U.S. border with Mexico.
Prior to his appointment, Rubinstein had served as the TCEQ’s deputy executive director since June of 2008. His responsibilities included assisting the executive director in all major capacities such as directing operations of all employees in 17 statewide offices, administrative oversight of agency budget, legislative activity, and implementation of agency policies.
Before his position as deputy executive director, Rubinstein was the director for the border and South-Central Texas area, and earlier was regional director for the Harlingen and Laredo offices. During this time, Rubinstein also served as the Rio Grande Watermaster, responsible for allocating, monitoring, and controlling the use of surface water in the Rio Grande basin from Fort Quitman to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. In 2005, as watermaster, he was instrumental in finding a solution to Mexico’s water debt to the United States. He also is a former city manager of Brownsville.
Rubinstein has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry from The University of Texas–Pan American.
He and his wife Judy have three daughters and three granddaughters.
