Douglas Domenech

Doug Domenech was recommended by Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, nominated by President Donald J. Trump and unanimously confirmed on September 13, 2017, by the United States Senate as the Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs. On September 18, 2017, he was sworn into office. On February 5, 2018, Secretary Zinke announced the signing of Secretarial Order #3361, expanding the functions and responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas. This portfolio now includes the Office of Insular Affairs, the Office of International Affairs, and the Ocean, Great Lakes, and Coastal Program (Oceans Program). The new expanded portfolio under Assistant Secretary Doug Domenech is now Office of the Assistant Secretary Insular and International Affairs. Domenech, whose family is from Puerto Rico, holds a BS in Forestry and Wildlife Management from Virginia Tech University and previously served as the Secretary of Natural Resources for the Commonwealth of Virginia overseeing six state environmental, recreation, and historic resource agencies. During the George W. Bush Administration, Domenech served as White House Liaison and Deputy Chief of Staff to Interior Secretaries Gale Norton and Dirk Kempthorne. In addition, he served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas. Domenech also serves as the Secretary’s appointee to the Advisory Council of the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico.