Air District strengthens leadership team, staffing to deliver on permitting priorities & strategic goals

Today, the Air District’s Board of Directors approved critical budget and staffing adjustments, including an updated leadership team structure designed to accelerate permit processing, reduce backlogs and improve transparency for permit applicants and the public.

“These additional resources will provide the focus and accountability we need to build long-term organizational capacity and meet the demands of a region facing complex air quality challenges,” said Dr. Philip Fine, executive officer of the Air District. “By strengthening our engineering and executive teams, we will reduce backlogs, streamline our processes and ensure businesses and communities can count on timely, transparent decisions.”

The additional resources include significant increases in full-time permanent and short-term staffing, as well as changes to the executive leadership structure. At the core of these leadership changes is the creation of a Principal Deputy Executive Officer role, a position focused on driving cross-division coordination to advance Air District priorities. Dr. Meredith Bauer, a proven leader with over 20 years of experience managing various air quality programs, most recently as the Air District’s Deputy Executive Officer of Engineering & Compliance, will take on this position with the immediate priority of advancing the agency’s permitting strategies.

The Air District is also pleased to announce that, beginning on September 22nd, Kelly Crawford will fill the Deputy Executive Officer of Engineering & Compliance position vacated by Dr. Bauer. Ms. Crawford earned her executive certificate in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, master’s degree in emergency management from the University of Maryland University College and bachelor's degree in environmental science from Rochester Institute of Technology. She has over 15 years of management experience in both the private and public sector managing air quality, energy, environmental and climate change programs, most recently as Senior Advisor for Energy and Environmental Justice at the U.S. Department of Energy and prior to that, leading the air pollution control program for the District of Columbia. Ms. Crawford brings a unique combination of deep expertise in air quality permitting, regulatory enforcement, community engagement and environmental justice.

The Air District is also excited to welcome Dr. Andrea Polidori to the newly created position of Deputy Executive Officer of Science, overseeing air quality monitoring, modeling, assessment, emission inventories and public health. Dr. Polidori earned his doctoral degree in atmospheric science from Rutgers University and his bachelor's degree in environmental science from Urbino University in Italy. He has over twenty years of experience in scientific research, air pollution measurements and technology and methods development. Dr. Polidori began his public service career at South Coast Air Quality Management District where he has been leading the development and implementation of some of the world’s most innovative air monitoring and community programs as Assistant Deputy Executive Officer of the Monitoring and Analysis Division. Dr. Polidori will begin his Air District role on November 3.

View the press release(196 Kb PDF, 2 pgs, posted 9/10/2025).