PRESS RELEASE
The Joint Advisory Committee for the Improvement of Air Quality (JAC/CCC) in the Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua/El Paso, Texas/Doña Ana County is proud to announce the winners of this year’s Carlos Rincon Air Quality Excellence Award based in the Paso Del Norte Air Basin. The nomination process and guidelines can be found here. This year’s U.S.-based recipient is Dr. Carlos Rincon, and the Mexican-based recipient is Dr. Felipe Adrian Vazquez-Galvez.
The U.S.-based recipient, Dr. Rincon, has had a profound impact on both the environment and the communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. His dedication and leadership continue to inspire and drive positive change in the region.
For the past 45 years, Dr. Carlos Rincon has actively engaged in multinational collaborations focused on U.S.-Mexico initiatives in natural resources, environment, and agriculture. His diverse roles have spanned the private sector, academia, and, more recently, his current position with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Presently, Dr. Rincon serves as the Director of the EPA's Region 6 U.S.-Mexico Border Office. In this capacity, he oversees the implementation of the U.S.-Mexico Environmental Program (Border 2020) in partnership with state and local government officials, tribes, academia, and various stakeholders from both nations.
Additionally, Dr. Rincon sits on the Technical Committee for the Paso Del Norte Air Quality Task Force, which aims to reduce air pollutants by promoting initiatives such as economic incentives for cost-effective strategies throughout the air basin. He is also an active member of the Technical Committee for the Paso Del Norte Water Task Force. This task force brings together managers and community leaders responsible for water utilities, irrigation districts, industrial water users, and community experts, fostering a regional approach where data, best management practices, and water plans are shared among key water use principals and planners.
Dr. Rincon's work has had a profound impact on both the environment and the communities along the U.S.-Mexico border. His dedication and leadership continue to inspire and drive positive change in the region.
The Mexican-based recipient, Dr. Felipe Adrian Vazquez-Galvez, leads the Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Green Technologies at the Institute of Engineering and Technology at UACJ. With a strong focus on atmospheric aerosols, air quality, and green infrastructure, Dr. Vazquez-Galvez has made significant contributions to the field, particularly through his publications on atmospheric black carbon concentrations in Mexico and promoting green infrastructure along the northern border of Mexico.
Dr. Vazquez-Galvez's impressive career includes his selection as one of the six social counselors for the Coordination of Evaluation of the National Climate Change Policy (CICC). His extensive experience is further demonstrated by his former roles as General Coordinator of the National Meteorological Service and representative of Mexico to the World Meteorological Organization. He also served as the executive director of the Montreal-based Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation.
In the academic realm, Dr. Vazquez-Galvez has collaborated with the Pan American Health Organization in exchange programs and provided institutional advice for the border states of northern Mexico. He has also been a Senior Advisor for the Study Commission for the Private Sector (CESPEDES) and the Border Ecological Cooperation Commission (BECC).
Throughout his career, Dr. Vazquez-Galvez has held various significant positions within the Mexican government, including Technical Secretary in the Commission for Northern Border Affairs, coordinator of advisors to the Federal Attorney and Assistant Attorney for Natural Resources at the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), Undersecretary of Management for Environmental Protection at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), and General Coordinator of the National Meteorological Service of the CONAGUA.
We commend Dr. Vazquez-Galvez and Dr. Rincon for their outstanding contributions to atmospheric sciences, air quality, and environmental protection, and we look forward to their continued impact in these crucial fields and their work along the U.S.- Mexico Border.