Jennifer Turnbow appointed to lead North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality beginning October 6
Bismarck, North Dakota – North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong has appointed Jennifer Turnbow as the next director of the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, selecting an executive with more than two decades of experience in environmental services, engineering, transportation and state government.
Turnbow currently serves as senior director of business operations and field services at Ulteig Engineers. She will officially take over leadership of DEQ on Oct. 6.
Her appointment will make her only the second director of the department since DEQ became an independent state agency in 2019. She succeeds Dave Glatt, who retired on July 31 following a 43 year career in North Dakota state government.
“Jen brings more than two decades of experience in the environmental, engineering, infrastructure and transportation sectors, with a proven track record of leading organizations and overseeing complex projects across North Dakota,” Armstrong said. “Our citizens will benefit from her deep understanding of the relationship between our state’s infrastructure, industry and natural resources, and her strong commitment to the environmental stewardship that allows North Dakota to maintain some of the cleanest air, land and water in the nation.”
Turnbow brings experience from private industry and state government
Turnbow’s career stretches back more than 20 years and includes several leadership positions involving environmental work and major infrastructure projects.
She joined Bismarck based engineering company KLJ in 2003. Five years later, she became the company’s director of environmental services, a position she held from 2008 until 2018.
Turnbow was then promoted to director of corridor services. In that role, she led several departments covering environmental services, right of way matters, cultural resources and surveying.
Her career later took her to Fargo based Ulteig Engineers, where she served as associate director for transportation during 2020 and 2021.
Turnbow moved into state government in 2021 when she became deputy director of planning for the North Dakota Department of Transportation. She remained in that position through 2022 and was responsible for overseeing the department’s planning divisions and related functions.
She returned to Ulteig in December 2022, taking her current position as senior director of business operations and field services.
Turnbow said she looks forward to continuing the work established under Glatt’s leadership.
“I’m grateful to Governor Armstrong for the opportunity to lead the DEQ and build on the strong foundation Dave Glatt established. I’m excited to join the dedicated team at DEQ in their mission to conserve and protect the quality of North Dakota’s air, land and water,” Turnbow said. “Our work should always be grounded in sound science and the law, with a clear responsibility to protect North Dakota’s natural resources and the health and safety of our people.”
North Dakota native prepares to take over DEQ
Turnbow is originally from New Salem, North Dakota. She earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Idaho and later received a master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.
Her professional background also includes leadership outside her regular employment. Turnbow previously served as president of the North Dakota chapter of the Women’s Transportation Seminar. She has also completed senior executive training offered by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Until Turnbow begins her new position, Beth Jacobson continues to serve as DEQ’s interim director. Jacobson stepped into that position following Glatt’s retirement on July 31.
Once Turnbow assumes leadership on Oct. 6, Jacobson will return to her regular position as DEQ’s director of accounting.
Armstrong also thanked Jacobson for her service while she led the agency during the transition between Glatt’s retirement and Turnbow’s appointment.
Turnbow will now be responsible for leading an agency focused on protecting North Dakota’s air, land and water while overseeing environmental programs that affect communities, businesses, industry and natural resources throughout the state.
