Michael O. Leavitt was sworn in as the 10th Administrator of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency on November 6, 2003. Prior to leading the agency, Leavitt served as Utah's
14th governor and was a national leader on homeland security, welfare reform and environmental
management. Six times during his administration, independent public policy analysts ranked
Utah among the best-managed states in the nation. He now brings his proven management record
to the EPA.
As a pioneer of collaborative environmental management, Leavitt helped clean up the air over
the Grand Canyon. He served as vice-chair of the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission
and co-chair of the Western Regional Air Partnership. These efforts resulted in 70
recommendations to improve visibility on the Colorado Plateau and a regulatory commitment and
strategies to dramatically reduce sulfur dioxide levels in 13 states.
Leavitt also led his state during the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the most
environmentally-sensitive games ever. Organizers achieved net zero air emissions, zero waste
and full compliance with all safety and environmental regulations. One-hundred-thousand trees
were planted as a lasting legacy of the environmental accomplishments.
As a thought leader on environmental management, Mr Leavitt co-authored, with former Governor
John Kitzhaber, D-Or, a balanced environmental philosophy known as Enlibra. Enlibra, derived
from Latin roots, means .moving toward balance. and emphasizes collaboration over
confrontation.
In Mr. Leavitt's previous public service he has always pursued three goals: to leave things
better than he found them; to plant seeds for the next generation; and to give it all he has.
These are his goals as leader of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Born February 11, 1951, in Cedar City, Utah, Leavitt graduated with a bachelor's degree in
economics and business from Southern Utah University. After earning his degree, he eventually
became president and chief executive officer of a regional insurance firm, establishing it as
one of the top insurance brokers in America. He is married to Jacalyn S. Leavitt; they are the
parents of five children.