The California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) recognizes inspectors throughout the state through the annual Rodney Swartzendruber Outstanding Inspector Award program. This year South Coast AQMD Supervising Air Quality Inspector Kamal Brenner was the recipient of this prestigious award. 

The award recognizes individual inspectors for outstanding performance, who have made significant contributions that have benefited air pollution control efforts in an exemplary way. The award was created in honor of Rodney Swartzendruber, a San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District inspector who was killed in an automobile accident while on duty. 

Brenner joined South Coast AQMD in 2008 as an Air Quality Inspector where he was assigned to the Industrial Team in the Office of Compliance & Enforcement. He transferred to the Area Sources Team in 2014 and volunteered to assume all enforcement duties for the agency’s Coordinator for the Open Burn program. He was promoted to Supervising Air Quality Inspector in March 2024. 

Brenner’s leadership abilities enable him to effectively, simultaneously implement several ongoing projects, including the enforcement of state Greenhouse Gas rules, solvent and architectural coatings compliance, and multiple Burn programs. He also represents South Coast AQMD at environmental justice meetings held in the Coachella Valley. His outstanding work ethic and contributions to cleaning the air in the South Coast region have set an example for other inspectors to follow.