Anne Arundel County, Annapolis Name New 'Climate Resilience' Leader

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Anne Arundel County and Annapolis officials have hired someone to help address the effects of climate change in the area.

Dan Nees will serve as interim executive director of the Resilience Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. In that role, he will lead efforts to launch, establish and position the Authority for long-term success, officials said.

“Getting this Resilience Authority operating is possibly the most important contribution that my administration is making to the future of our county,” said County Executive Steuart Pittman. “Bringing Dan Nees and Throwe Environmental on board to establish the foundation for this organization will ensure that we create the model for jurisdictions who will follow our lead in the coming years.”

The county and the city began the nationwide search for a director to lead the Authority shortly after its creation by county council legislation in June 2021. Both partnered to establish the Authority as a quasi-governmental organization tasked with identifying and financing the construction of projects designed to address the impacts of climate change.

"I want to thank County Executive Pittman for his partnership," said Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley. "While the idea came out of community meetings in Annapolis, creating the Resilience Authority would not have been possible without the follow-through and assistance of not only Steuart, but also our state legislative partners. I look forward to seeing their work to help residents in both the county and the city."

Nees has over twenty years of experience assisting communities and organizations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and nationally in their efforts to finance and implement environmental and sustainable development initiatives. Nees currently serves as Director, Policy and Finance at Throwe Environmental, LLC and as a Senior Fellow with the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland (UMD).

Nees previously served as Director of the UMD Environmental Finance Center and headed environmental market and water quality programs at Forest Trends and the World Resources Institute. Nees has a Master of Environmental Policy, a Master of Business Administration, and a Bachelor in Economics all from UMD College Park.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to work with Anne Arundel County and the City of Annapolis to launch a uniquely important and impactful organization,” Resilience Authority Interim Executive Director Dan Nees said. “The Resilience Authority will be an invaluable tool for protecting the region’s economy, culture, and natural resources from the impacts of climate change. We look forward to working on behalf of the citizens of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County to create this groundbreaking institution.”

Nees’ work as interim director will be conducted in partnership with the team of climate resilience policy and finance experts at Throwe Environmental, LLC.

In close collaboration with county and city staff, officials said Nees and his team will build the institutional foundation of the Authority, establishing governance, administrative, and leadership structures. Nees will also develop a strategic plan to codify an organizational vision and direct the Authority’s approach to project identification and implementation.