Easterly to retire after 10 years as IDEM commissioner

Thomas Easterly informed Gov. Mike Pence on Thursday he will retire from his post as commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, a position he has held since 2005.

Easterly's retirement is effective Aug. 28.

Gov. Mike Pence praised Easterly, saying Indiana residents have a cleaner, healthier environment because of his leadership. Easterly retires as the longest-serving IDEM commissioner.

Easterly was president of Environmental Business Strategies Inc., a consulting firm he started in 2002, when he was appointed commissioner by Gov. Mitch Daniels. He was reappointed to the post by Pence in 2013.

Pence will appoint a replacement for Easterly.