About the Director of EPA's Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response

Gregory Sayles, PhD

Dr. Gregory Sayles directs the Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER).

Dr. Sayles started his career at EPA in Cincinnati in 1990 as a principle investigator in ORD, leading the development of bioremediation technologies to address the nation’s contaminated subsurface and sediments. He developed and executed a large Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with three government agencies and six industrial partners to develop clean up biotechnologies for chlorinated solvents. During the time, Greg co-authored over 50 journal articles and book chapters yielding over 1,400 citations and presented at dozens of conferences. Greg then entered the next chapter in his career – research and organizational planning. During the 2000s, he developed a diverse knowledge of applied EPA research by planning the science and defending the budgets for several topical areas including endocrine disrupting chemicals, pesticides and toxics, and drinking water. Over the years, Greg has co-authored many critical EPA research plans and co-led many engagements with ORD’s Board of scientific Counselors.

In 2007, Greg joined ORD’s National Homeland Security Research Center, initially as its Associate Director, and then Deputy Director and, finally, as the Center Director. During his tenure, Greg built a “cradle to grave” approach to scientific product development by engaging customers from formulation through delivery, improved planning, product tracking and accountability tools to improve performance and confidence of customers, built a highly-effective management team and motivated staff, all leading to recognition by its customers, and ORD leadership, that NHSRC was among the most highly-functioning ORD organizations. Greg is a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute’s Leadership for a Democratic Society program, and has completed executive-level training in negotiation, communications, and organizational resiliency.

Greg grew up in California in the San Francisco bay area. He earned Bachelors, Masters, and Doctoral degrees in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology, the University of California at Davis, and North Carolina State University, respectively. Outside of work, Greg enjoys playing the guitar, exercise, homebrewing craft beer, walking on the beach, and having fun with his family.