After 22 years with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Julie Cunningham was named this week as interim executive director, succeeding J.D. Strong who left to become the new Director of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Cunningham had been the Water Board’s Chief of Planning and Management since 2008. She agency in 1994 as an employee responsible for taking water samples from lakes to check water quality.
“The water board is a group of skilled and experienced professionals. We’ll stay focused on our mission to managing and monitoring the state’s water,” said Cunningham.
Gov. Mary Fallin offered her praise of Cunningham.
“I applaud the Oklahoma Water Resources Board’s decision—-Julie is an experienced water professional who will continue to lead the agency after J.D. Strong’s departure,” said the Governor. “She has great insight from working within every division of the agency during her 22-year career with the agency.”
The directors of the water plan will continue their search for a permanent executive director but they don’t expect to hire someone before January 1.