Terry Tamminen
Special Assistant to the Governor for Energy and Environmental Technologies
State of California, Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

From his youth in Australia to career experiences in Europe, Africa and all parts of the United States, Terry has developed expertise in business, farming, education, non-profit, the environment, the arts, and government. He is a United States Coast Guard-licensed ship captain and has also managed the largest sheep ranch east of the Mississippi. Additionally, he has managed a multi-million dollar real estate company, owned/operated a successful recreational services business, and assisted the west African nation of Nigeria with the creation of their first solid waste recycling program.

Terry has authored numerous technical papers, “The Ultimate Pool Maintenance Manual” (McGraw-Hill 1993; third edition 2000), and several theatrical works on the life of William Shakespeare. Terry is an avid airplane and helicopter pilot and speaks German, Dutch and Spanish.

In 1993, Terry founded the Santa Monica BayKeeper and served as its Executive Director for six years. He co-founded Waterkeeper programs in San Diego, Orange County, Ventura, and Santa Barbara and serves on the Board of the National Waterkeeper Alliance. From 1999-2003, Terry was the Executive Director of Environment Now in Santa Monica, a foundation dedicated to the restoration and protection of California’s environment and natural resources.

Terry was appointed as the Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on November 12, 2003. He was appointed as Cabinet Secretary in December of 2004 and as of January 1, 2006, serves as a Special Advisor to the Governor for Energy and Environmental policy.