Role as Deputy Administrator

Q: Environmental Forum suggested that you were the most influential Deputy Administrator the agency had ever had. What did you do different from your predecessors or successors?

MR. ALM: Well, I do not know if that is true, but I think that I came in with a pretty clear idea of what needed to be done in the agency. I had some ideas about how to develop the management structure to do it. Bill Ruckelshaus was really enjoyable to work for and gave me the flexibility to operate. We took great pains to prevent our staff shopping between us for decisions. I had excellent relationships with the career staff, and played a role in the appointment of many of the political appointees, and knew the others. It was a good team effort. Just having a supportive boss, a knowledge of the programs of the agency, and personal contacts with the people - all those things helped.

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Role as Deputy Administrator

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