David M. Uhlmann is an American educator and attorney who is the assistant administrator of the

Environmental Protection Agency A biophysical environment is a biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development, and evolution. A biophysical environment can vary in scale f ...

within the

Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) is the law enforcement arm of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is made up of attorneys, special agents, scientists and other employees. Organization The OECA ...

. He previously served as a deputy assistant administrator in the same division and as an environmental law professor at the

University of Michigan Law School The University of Michigan Law School (Michigan Law) is the law school of the University of Michigan, a Public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 1859, the school offers Master of Laws (LLM), Master of C ...

Early life and education

Uhlmann received a J.D. from

Yale Law School Yale Law School (Yale Law or YLS) is the law school of Yale University, a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. It was established in 1824 and has been ranked as the best law school in the United States by ''U ...

and a B.A. in history and political science with high honors from

Swarthmore College Swarthmore College ( , ) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1864, with its first classes held in 1869, Swarthmore is one of the earliest coeduca ...

Career

After graduating from law school, Uhlmann clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Marvin Shoob in Atlanta, Georgia. Uhlmann is known for his expertise in environmental law, as well as his role in law enforcement. Previously, Uhlmann served as a federal prosecutor for 17 years, which involved a stint at the

United States Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and administration of justice in the United State ...

. He helped prosecute environmental crimes and oversee the creation of new initiatives. During his tenure, he helped build stronger connections with other law enforcement groups like the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...

and Environmental Protection Agency. Uhlmann served as the lead prosecutor in ''United States v. Elias'', which involved a 20-year-old worker severely and permanently brain-damaged.

EPA Nomination

On June 22, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Uhlmann to be an assistant EPA administrator. Hearings on his nomination were held before the

United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works The United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is responsible for legislation and oversight of the natural and built environment and for studying matters concerning environmental protection and nature conservation, resource co ...

on September 15, 2021. The committee favorably reported his nomination on December 1, 2021. Uhlmann's nomination expired at the end of the year and was returned to President Biden on January 3, 2022. President Biden renominated Uhlmann the following day. The Environment and Public Works Committee deadlocked on Uhlmann's nomination on April 7, 2022, in a

party-line vote A party-line vote in a deliberative assembly (such as a constituent assembly, parliament, or legislature) is a vote in which a substantial majority of members of a political party vote the same way (usually in opposition to the other political ...

. This occurred at a time when Senate Republicans were blocking several EPA nominees, and environmental law enforcement was not strong. The

United States Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and pow ...

discharged his nomination from the committee on August 6, 2022, by a 51–39 vote. His nomination again expired at the end of the year, and was returned to President Biden on January 3, 2023. President Biden renominated Uhlmann on January 23, 2023. The committee favorably reported his nomination on April 26, 2023. The Senate confirmed Uhlmann's confirmation on July 20, 2023 by a 53–46 vote.

Awards and recognitions

Uhlmann has received awards from the Justice Department and EPA.

Personal life

Uhlmann's wife, Virginia Murphy, is also a professor at the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

. They have three adult children and two grandchildren.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uhlmann, David Living people American lawyers University of Michigan Law School faculty Yale Law School alumni Swarthmore College alumni Year of birth missing (living people) People of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Biden administration personnel