Jon Niermann

Jon Niermann of Austin was appointed to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality by Governor Greg Abbott effective October 1, 2015. At the conclusion of his six-year term, he was reappointed effective September 23, 2021. He has served as chairman since August 31, 2018.

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About Jon Niermann

Chairman Jon Niermann

Niermann represents the agency on the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) and serves as Governor Abbott’s appointee to the Western States Water Council and the Good Neighbor Environmental Board federal advisory committee. He is also responsible for the administration of funds that Texas receives from the Volkswagen State Environmental Mitigation Trust.

An environmental lawyer by training, Niermann was recently inducted as a fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers. Before joining TCEQ, he worked closely with the agency in roles at the Texas Attorney General’s Office, including assistant attorney general and chief of the Environmental Protection Division. In these roles, Niermann led the Texas delegation to negotiations that resolved the state’s claims relating to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. He has also represented the state of Texas before federal appellate courts, including as the lead attorney on several petitions for review of EPA rulemaking actions under the federal Clean Air Act.

Before entering public service, Niermann was an environmental attorney in private practice. He began his regulatory career as the safety and environmental manager for a heavy-equipment manufacturer.

Niermann earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He earned a master of business administration and juris doctor from the University of Oregon.