Palmetto State News

Governor Henry McMaster has appointed Myra Reece as the first director of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). Reece, who is currently serving as the Interim Director of SCDES, was previously the Director of Environmental Affairs for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) from December 2015 until July 2024. This appointment follows a statutory reorganization that mandated DHEC's Director of Environmental Affairs to serve as interim director until a permanent SCDES director is nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Senate in 2025.

"Through her extensive leadership experience at DHEC and now as Interim Director of SCDES, there is no one more qualified or better positioned to lead this new agency forward," said Governor Henry McMaster. "Her expertise, professionalism, and commitment have earned my respect, as well as that of her peers and staff. I am confident she will continue to effectively execute our state's environmental missions and ensure our natural resources are protected."

Reece has held various leadership roles at DHEC over three decades, including Director of Environmental Affairs, Bureau of Air Quality Chief from May 2004 until December 2015, and Regional Office Division Director from February 1992 until May 2004. As interim director, she oversees several bureaus within SCDES.

"I’ve had the incredible privilege of working alongside talented teams of environmental experts for more than 30 years, and I’m honored to be considered to continue to lead the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services,” said SCDES Interim Director Myra Reece. “I thank Governor McMaster for his nomination and support in protecting and preserving South Carolina’s critical air, land, water and coastal resources, and I look forward to continued engagement with the General Assembly through the confirmation process.”

Reece hails from Edgefield and lives in North Augusta with her husband Dan Reece. They have two sons, Trib and Kevin, along with a granddaughter. She holds a bachelor's degree in microbiology from Clemson University and a master's degree in public health from the University of South Carolina. Additionally, she is a graduate of several prestigious programs related to public health management.

Currently serving as Chair of Governor McMaster's WaterSC Water Resources Working Group, Reece was also President of the Environmental Council of States from 2022 until 2023.