Governor Jeff Landry Addresses the Future Leadership of the Department of Environmental Quality

Baton Rouge, LA - May 2, 2025, Governor Jeff Landry announced changes to the leadership at the Department of Environmental Quality. Aurelia Skipwith Giacometto has accepted a position with Earth and Water Law, a prestigious law firm headquartered in Washington D.C.

Throughout her time as Secretary, Aurelia played a pivotal role in modernizing the department's internal infrastructure to enhance transparency, developing a dashboard and digitizing internal offices. She also demonstrated a serious commitment to fiscal responsibility, evidenced by a 2.5% reduction in the FY 2026 budget, an over $5 million reduction.

“I want to sincerely thank Aurelia for her dedicated service to our State and the Department of Environmental Quality. Aurelia prioritized environmental improvements to our air, land, and water, while also keeping a focus on the jobs and businesses that often suffer from red-tape and overregulation,” said Governor Jeff Landry. “We are grateful for her actions to improve the Department and wish her the best in her next endeavor.”

Governor Landry has appointed Courtney Burdette to serve as the next Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.

“Courtney has played a pivotal role at LDEQ for a decade, and it is exciting to bring her leadership and experience back to the Department. I am confident that Courtney will continue to move the department in a direction that protects our environment while also fighting for Louisiana businesses over bureaucracy,” said Governor Jeff Landry. 

Courtney Burdette Background:

Courtney Burdette brings back over a decade of experience to the department, where she first joined the legal team at LDEQ in January 2014. Burdette served as Permits Supervisor of the department’s Legal Division before becoming General Counsel in 2020 and later Executive Counsel.

Burdette was previously employed as an attorney with the Louisiana Board of Ethics. She later served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Louisiana Department of Justice in the Litigation Division, General Liability Section, where she defended the State of Louisiana in a variety of tort cases.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in english from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Later going on to receive her juris doctorate degree from LSU. Courtney is a wife and the proud Mom of Payton and Carter.