Kansas Health Institute | Information For Policy Makers. Health for Kansans.

John W. Mitchell is director of the Division of Environment at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

He has held the position since June 2008. He directs all environmental program activities for the agency and oversees a statewide staff of about 490 people

He also served as the acting director of KDHE from November 2010 to January 2011 in the interval before current KDHE Secretary Robert Moser replaced former Sec. Roderick Bremby.

Mitchell's background includes more than 30 years of public service. He has served in several roles at KDHE, including three years as director of the Bureau of Environmental Field Services, where he oversaw all environmental work in the department’s six regional offices.

Prior to that, much of his career was spent in programs of the Bureau of Waste Management where he served in a number of capacities including chief of the Waste Compliance, Enforcement, and Policy Section. In that capacity, he was responsible for overall compliance and enforcement activities related to both hazardous and solid waste management. He also has served as chief of the Hazardous Waste Section and was responsible for all hazardous waste management program activities including facility permitting.

He has a master’s degree in Environmental Health Science from the University of Kansas where he also completed an undergraduate degree in biology and microbiology. He lives in Lawrence with his wife and two children.