Office of the Director
Mission
The Department of the Environment (DoE) works for a healthy, beautiful and sustainable county through programs that provide clean water, flood control, recycling and waste management, litter prevention, sustainable animal management and pet adoption in partnership with residents and other stakeholders.
Core Services
- Collects, processes and diverts waste from the county-operated Landfill, commercial facilities and households
- Facilitates pet adoptions, manages an animal holding facility, issues licenses, investigates cruelty complaints and conducts humane outreach and education events
- Prevents buildings and structures from flooding
- Provides clean water services
- Provides sustainability services to reduce greenhouse gas and emissions
DoE Senior Leadership
Andrea L. Crooms
Director Andrea L. Crooms is a life-long advocate for the environment, an attorney, economist, and climate scientist with 20 years of leadership experience in environmental regulation and climate change mitigation. Before joining the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, Director Crooms worked at the U.S. Department of Energy for 11 years, serving in multiple leadership roles at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), where they planned, developed and implemented programs in renewable power, water and wastewater, procurement, sustainable transportation, weatherization, waste and recycling, landfill waste to energy, and building energy efficiency. In addition, they have served with several other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and in local government as a public defender. Director Crooms has a Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Science in Energy Management and engineering from the New York Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Agricultural Science in Natural Resources Management from the University of Delaware.
Michelle Russell
Deputy Director Michelle Russell oversees the Strategic Services and Animal Management Divisions and has been employed with the County for 21 years. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Economics from Bowie State University. She also holds two Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees, one in Financial Management and the other in International Management, from Southeastern University, where she graduated with honors. She is a proud DuVal Senior High School graduate and a lifelong resident of Prince George’s County.
Adriana Caldarelli
Deputy Director Adriana Caldarelli comes to the County from the Water Environment Federation, where she led the Stormwater Institute and the National Green Infrastructure Certification Program. This workforce development program focused on the proper maintenance, construction, and inspection of green infrastructure. Prior to that role, Adriana spent 17 years with the New Jersey Department of the Environment, where she worked on stormwater and water quality policy and permitting. Adriana holds a BS in Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University, an MS in Environmental Policy from the NJ Institute of Technology, and an MBA from Virginia Tech.