Susan Nakamura 
Susan Nakamura has been selected as Chief Operating Officer replacing Jill Whynot, who retired from the agency in February this year. Susan has worked at South Coast AQMD for over 30 years, most recently as the Assistant Deputy Executive Officer for Planning and Rule Development and Implementation (PRDI). She has been instrumental in many major rules and programs resulting in major emissions reductions. Susan began her career as an Air Quality Specialist and has taken on positions of increasing responsibility 
throughout the years. She will work closely with the Executive team and will be responsible for handling daily operations, managing resources and succession planning, and helping ensure key objectives are met. 

Michael Krause 
Michael Krause has been promoted to Assistant Deputy Executive Officer for PRDI. During his 31 years at South Coast AQMD, he has been Planning & Rules Manager overseeing a number of rule projects, including regulation of refinery equipment, continuous emissions monitoring systems, flares, fenceline monitoring, combustion equipment, toxics, coatings, and adhesives, and upgrades to the Flare Event Notification System. Mike began his career as an Assistant Air Quality Engineer then progressively promoted to his current position. He will fill the vacancy created by Susan Nakamura’s promotion.

Kathryn Higgins 
Kathryn Higgins has been selected as the Director of Community Air Programs; a new position assigned to the Executive Office. She began her South Coast AQMD career in 1987 as an Air Quality Inspector in the Enforcement and Compliance division and spent 24 years in PRDI where she was responsible for overseeing the AB 2766 Subvention Fund Program and Rule 2202 Programs. Kathryn worked most recently in the office of Legislative and Public Affairs as a Senior Public Affairs Manager, leading the Geographic Outreach Team and the AB 617 Team. In her new role, Kathryn will be responsible for directing the agency’s AB 617 program development, implementation, and stakeholder collaboration.