Governor Greg Abbott appointed L’Oreal Stepney, P.E., as Chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), with a term expiring February 1, 2029. She is the first engineer to lead the full‑time three‑member Board and also serves on the Environmental Flows Advisory Group and the Western States Water Council.
TWDB manages a $23 billion portfolio overseeing the State Water Plan, State Flood Plan, water science, and statewide infrastructure financing. Since joining the Board, Stepney has prioritized workforce and leadership development, launching the agency’s first Mentorship Program and Engineering Career Ladder.
Previously, Stepney served as Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), leading 2,800 employees across sixteen regional offices. During her 30‑year tenure, she guided key regulatory initiatives including Title V Air Permitting, Texas’ first nutrient criteria for reservoirs, Water Quality Standards updates, and EPA delegation for certain oil and gas discharges. She also created TCEQ’s first Office of Water, managed drought response for over 100 communities, oversaw forty‑nine water rights priority calls, and served as a lead negotiator with Mexico and the International Boundary and Water Commission on Rio Grande Treaty compliance.
Stepney led programs protecting drinking water for 30 million Texans and permitting for wastewater, stormwater, and water rights. She is known for strong stakeholder collaboration on complex issues.
She serves on the Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program board, is a graduate of the University of Texas, and a registered professional engineer.