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Air District Leadership
The Air District’s leadership team oversees its operations, supports its mission, and guides its approach to managing and improving air quality in the Bay Area.
The Air District’s leadership team is responsible for the District’s overall functions and activities, including policy development, administration, enforcement, permitting, technology development, planning, grant allocation, and public information.
The Air District takes a progressive approach to regulating air pollution. By adopting reasonable air quality plans and following through with sensible regulations (sensitive to socioeconomic impacts), flexible permitting, helpful compliance assistance, and proactive enforcement, the District has one of the most responsive air programs in the nation.
Philip Fine, Ph.D.
Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer
Dr. Philip Fine serves as the Executive Officer/Air Pollution Control Officer for the Air District, one of the preeminent air quality management agencies in the United States. As Executive Officer for the Air District, Dr. Fine is responsible for all agency functions and activities, including policy and rule development, enforcement, permitting, technology development, planning, grant allocation, administration and engagement with communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution to address environmental justice concerns.
Dr. Fine joined the Air District from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he served as Principal Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy, a presidentially appointed position. His EPA portfolio included a wide array of cross-agency policy and regulatory matters, including serving as EPA’s Environmental Justice Officer. In this role, he led the Office of Environmental Justice through a period of unprecedented attention, action, and growth, including implementation of President Biden’s Justice40 initiative.
Prior to his term at the U.S. EPA, Dr. Fine served for 15 years at the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Southern California, the last five years in the position of Deputy Executive Officer for the Planning, Rule Development and Area Sources Division. Dr. Fine’s previous responsibilities at South Coast Air Quality Management District included oversight of ambient air monitoring, laboratory services, quality assurance, and source testing.
Before joining the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Dr. Fine was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Here he taught courses and conducted extensive research on particulate pollution, air monitoring technologies, and exposure assessment.
Dr. Fine received his Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology in Environmental Science & Engineering, and his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.
Alexander “Sandy” Crockett
General Counsel
Alexander “Sandy” Crockett serves as the chief attorney for the Air District and manages the agency’s Legal Division. Prior to his appointment as General Counsel in 2022, he served as an Assistant Counsel at the Air District for 18 years, representing the agency in high profile cases involving air quality regulations and policy, CEQA, and other environmental litigation
Prior to joining the Air District, Mr. Crockett practiced environmental law at various Washington DC and San Francisco law firms, where he worked on a diverse set of cases.
Mr. Crockett received a B.A. with Honors in English Literature and Natural Sciences from Cambridge University in England, a Master of Science Degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics, and his JD with High Honors from The George Washington University Law School.
Meredith Bauer, Ph.D.
Deputy Executive Officer of Engineering and Compliance
Dr. Meredith Bauer serves as Deputy Executive Officer of Engineering and Compliance and oversees the operations of the Air District’s Engineering/Permitting and Compliance and Enforcement divisions, as well as the Health Risk Assessment/Risk Reduction program.
Dr. Bauer earned her doctoral degree in atmospheric science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a bachelor’s degree in natural resources from Cornell University. She worked at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for over 20 years and has extensive experience managing various air quality programs. She worked most recently as an assistant director at EPA Region IX, overseeing permits and rules.
Hyacinth “Hy” Hinojosa
Deputy Executive Officer of Finance and Administration
Hyacinth “Hy” Hinojosa serves as Deputy Executive Officer of Finance and Administration and oversees the operations of the Air District’s Human Resources and Finance and Administration divisions.
Mr. Hinojosa earned his master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach, and bachelor’s degree in economics from San Diego State University. He has over 25 years of management experience in both federal and local government, most recently as Marin County’s deputy county administrator where he has led the county’s emergency response efforts for COVID-19, as well as wildfires and power shutdowns. He previously worked as senior policy advisor at the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and as assistant regional commissioner at the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Arsenio Mataka
Deputy Executive Officer of Equity & Community Programs
Arsenio Mataka serves as Deputy Executive Officer of Equity & Community Programs and is the primary internal and external contact for the Air District on environmental justice matters. He oversees the agency's community engagement, strategic incentives, technology implementation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Arsenio holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Sacramento State University and a Juris Doctor from Humphreys College School of Law. He served as a Biden-Harris Administration appointee to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where he led the establishment of two new offices within the agency: the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, and the Office of Environmental Justice. He last served as counselor to the secretary for climate change, environmental justice, civil rights, and equity at the agency.
His extensive experience includes acting as senior advisor on environmental policy and law to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and as a special advisor to California Governor Jerry Brown, where he played a pivotal role in crafting climate change legislation. Prior to this, he served as assistant secretary for environmental justice and tribal affairs at the California Environmental Protection Agency.
Greg Nudd
Deputy Executive Officer of Science and Policy
Greg Nudd serves as a Deputy Air Pollution Control Officer and oversees the public policy programs at the Air District, including the Strategic Rules and Policy Office, the Planning and Climate Protection Division, the Public Health Office, and the Community Protection Office.
Mr. Nudd most recently served as the Rules and Strategic Policy Officer for the Air District. Prior to this appointment, he was the Rule Development Manager for three years. Mr. Nudd previously worked as an environmental engineer at US EPA Region 9 for five years, where he reviewed State Implementation Plans and developed Federal Implementation Plans. Mr. Nudd began his career at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, starting as a permit engineer specializing in combustion sources. He worked at TCEQ for 16 years in a variety of engineering, management, and information technology positions. Mr. Nudd earned Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin where he specialized in Energy Studies. He holds a Professional Engineering license in the State of Texas.
Viet Tran
Deputy Executive Officer of Public Affairs
Viet Tran serves as Deputy Executive Officer of Public Affairs and oversees the Air District’s Communications, Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Outreach/Special Projects functions.
Mr. Tran earned his bachelor’s degree in public administration and public policy from the University of Southern California. He has over 20 years of private and public sector experience managing and implementing public relations strategies and working with elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels. In his role as the director of public affairs at Entergy New Orleans, Viet served as company spokesperson to government and community organizations as well as the media. He previously served as area director with the Mayor’s Office of Los Angeles.
Alan Abbs
Legislative Officer
Alan Abbs serves as the Legislative Officer and oversees state and federal legislative and budget advocacy. Prior to coming to the Air District, Mr. Abbs was the Executive Director of the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA), supporting Air Pollution Control Officers for California’s 35 air districts in regulatory and legislative matters. Prior to that, he was the Air Pollution Control Officer for the Tehama County Air Pollution Control District, a rural air district in Northern California. Mr. Abbs has also worked as a solid waste landfill manager, a paper mill engineer, and a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Abbs has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, and a Master’s of Business Administration from CSU Chico.
Last Updated: 3/1/2018