Gov. Joe Manchin has found a replacement for Environmental Protection Secretary Stephanie Timmermeyer, and Timmermeyer will leave the post two months earlier than planned, the governor's office announced Friday.

Randy Huffman, a 21-year veteran of the state Department of Environmental Protection, will become DEP secretary effective May 1.

Huffman is being promoted from his current position as deputy secretary and director of the DEP Division of Mining and Reclamation. He has held both posts since Timmermeyer consolidated them in April 2005.

In a prepared statement, Manchin said that elevating Huffman into DEP's top spot was a natural move.

"Randy's technical background has served him well as the agency's mining director for the past three years," the governor said. "His background and knowledge of the internal workings of the agency make him an obvious choice for this position."

Huffman, a West Virginia native, has a bachelor's degree in mining engineering technology from the West Virginia Institute of Technology, but has never worked in the mining industry as an engineer. He also holds a master's of business administration degree.

At DEP, Huffman has managed the agency's pollution prevention and open dump program, the landfill closure assistance program and the Office of Administration. Huffman also serves as a squadron commander in the West Virginia Air National Guard's 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston.

Last month, Timmermeyer announced that she was leaving DEP effective July 1, after serving as agency secretary since January 2003. With Huffman's appointment, Timmermeyer will now leave DEP at the end of this month.

"As we move forward with our energy policy in this state, I will be relying heavily on Randy and the DEP to ensure that we are doing so in a way that protects our natural resources for future generations," Manchin said. "Secretary Timmermeyer recommended Randy as a person that could step into the position seamlessly, and I agree."

To contact staff writer Ken Ward Jr., use e-mail or call 348-1702.

Gov. Joe Manchin has found a replacement for Environmental Protection Secretary Stephanie Timmermeyer, and Timmermeyer will leave the post two months earlier than planned, the governor's office announced Friday.

Randy Huffman, a 21-year veteran of the state Department of Environmental Protection, will become DEP secretary effective May 1.

Huffman is being promoted from his current position as deputy secretary and director of the DEP Division of Mining and Reclamation. He has held both posts since Timmermeyer consolidated them in April 2005.

In a prepared statement, Manchin said that elevating Huffman into DEP's top spot was a natural move.

"Randy's technical background has served him well as the agency's mining director for the past three years," the governor said. "His background and knowledge of the internal workings of the agency make him an obvious choice for this position."

Huffman, a West Virginia native, has a bachelor's degree in mining engineering technology from the West Virginia Institute of Technology, but has never worked in the mining industry as an engineer. He also holds a master's of business administration degree.

At DEP, Huffman has managed the agency's pollution prevention and open dump program, the landfill closure assistance program and the Office of Administration. Huffman also serves as a squadron commander in the West Virginia Air National Guard's 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston.

Last month, Timmermeyer announced that she was leaving DEP effective July 1, after serving as agency secretary since January 2003. With Huffman's appointment, Timmermeyer will now leave DEP at the end of this month.

"As we move forward with our energy policy in this state, I will be relying heavily on Randy and the DEP to ensure that we are doing so in a way that protects our natural resources for future generations," Manchin said. "Secretary Timmermeyer recommended Randy as a person that could step into the position seamlessly, and I agree."

To contact staff writer Ken Ward Jr., use e-mail or call 348-1702.