Courtney Smith
Courtney Smith joins CARB as the first Principal Deputy Executive Officer and will work closely with the Executive Officers and the Executive Team to manage CARB programs and operations. She brings her extensive management experience and commitment to CARB’s clean air, climate change, and equity mission.
Courtney is a recognized leader in California climate and energy policy and joins us from the Department of Conservation, where she served as Chief Deputy of Programs in the Geologic Energy Management Division. Prior to that, she held the position of Chief Deputy Director at the California Energy Commission, and previously worked at CARB in the Research Division as an Air Pollution Specialist.
Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a strong dedication to community engagement and equity-focused initiatives. Recent examples include:
- Leading an interagency effort to partner with community through the Arvin/Lamont and Shafter AB 617 Steering Committees to carry out joint inspections of oil and gas wells to address concerns regarding well leaks and health and safety impacts.
- Directing efforts to secure more than $265 million for remediation of defunct oil sites that pose risks to California communities, and guiding the creation of a statewide public, community, and tribal engagement process to inform the equitable and effective investment of these funds.
Courtney’s leadership and accomplishments underscore her unwavering commitment to advancing environmental justice and community well-being.