VENTURA — The Executive Officer of the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has recently announced his retirement. Dr. Laki Tisopulos will be leaving the APCD on March 31st, after serving the public for more than 34 years in Southern California.
Dr. Tisopulos was appointed as the Executive officer/Air Pollution Control Officer of the APCD in 2019. He joined the APCD after serving for more than three decades at the South Coast Air Quality Management District. During his long public sector career, he worked on functions that span the entire spectrum of the air quality field including planning, regulatory development, permitting, monitoring, and enforcement.
“I am very proud of the air quality improvements we were able to achieve over the last three to four decades in Southern California. I am especially proud of what we were able to accomplish during my pandemic-challenged tenure with the APCD, including our efforts to modernize our operation, initiating the EV conversion of our fleet, completing the renovation and move to our new headquarters, improving our financial footing and, most importantly, improving air quality for the residents of Ventura County,” said Dr. Tisopulos.
During his tenure, Ventura County was designated to be in attainment with the federal 80 ppb ozone standard in 2019. Last year was the county’s cleanest year on record yet with all five of the APCD’s monitoring stations meeting the more stringent federal ozone standard of 75 ppb. The APCD also made good progress towards meeting the even more stringent federal ozone standard of 70 ppb, having already four of the five of its monitoring stations meeting that standard. During the same timeframe, the APCD has also maintained its attainment with the federal PM2.5 and PM10 standards with a reasonable margin of safety. “What we were able to accomplish over the last three years is nothing short of a miracle that makes me, as it would any other Executive Officer, beam with pride,” said Dr. Tisopulos.
“On behalf of the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board, APCD’s employees, and the residents of Ventura County, I want to thank Dr. Tisopulos for his honorable service as our Air Pollution Control Officer. The quality of air we breathe in Ventura County has greatly improved because of his exemplary work, and we wish Dr. Tisopulos well in his retirement,” said Supervisor Matt LaVere, who is also serving as the Chair of the APCD Board.
Mr. Ali Reza Ghasemi, P.E., Planning/Rules/Incentives Manager and acting Engineering Manager with the APCD, was appointed to serve as the interim Executive Officer, starting April 1st, and until the APCD identifies a permanent replacement.
The APCD is the local agency responsible for improving air quality in Ventura County.