Serena McIlwain

Serena Coleman McIlwain (born ) is an American government official who has served as the secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment since March 2023. She previously served as the undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency from 2019 to 2023. McIlwain is the first Black secretary of the Environment in Maryland history and the third woman confirmed to the position.

Early life and education McIlwain was born in Alexandria, Virginia, and attended T.C. Williams High School.

McIlwain attended Strayer University from 1988 to 1994, earning a B.A. in Business Administration. From 2001 to 2003, McIlwain attended the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, earning a Master of Public Administration. She originally envisioned a career in business but became interested in environmental protection after researching the impact of agricultural practices and greenhouse gases. This led her to make personal lifestyle changes, such as reducing her meat consumption, and to pursue a career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Upon taking office, McIlwain inherited an agency she described as "hobbled" by a shrinking workforce and legal disputes. She prioritized clearing the agency's backlog of expired stormwater discharge and septic permits, emphasizing a "five-star customer service" approach to regulation. To address environmental justice concerns, she initiated listening sessions in communities such as Curtis Bay, Baltimore, where residents expressed concerns about coal dust and industrial pollution. She oversaw the reconsideration process for the Conowingo Dam operating license following a 2022 court ruling that nullified a previous settlement.

As Secretary, McIlwain serves as a member of the governor's Executive Council and the governor's Council on the Chesapeake Bay. Since 2024, she has chaired the governor's Subcabinet on Climate. Since 2023, she has also been a member of the Public Policy Board for Veloz.

Personal life McIlwain is a Democrat. She has two children. She resided in Sacramento, California, in 2019 following her appointment to CalEPA. Outside of her time in California, she has been a lifetime resident of the Washington, D.C. area. McIlwain raised her children in Prince George's County, Maryland.