Mr. Welch has worked at the forefront of California’s climate, air quality and clean energy programs for nearly two decades, serving under three California Governors and as Chief Advisor to the California Air Resources Board Chair. He served as a California Gubernatorial appointee under the Schwarzenegger, Brown and Newsom Administrations as Special Counsel and Chief Advisor to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chair Mary Nichols. He also briefly held this role for CARB Chair Liane Randolph. In his role at CARB, Mr. Welch helped lead the creation of multiple globally recognized programs to cut pollution and greenhouse gas emissions through the deployment of clean technologies, including multiple sets of standards for cleaner light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles; an economy-wide cap-and-trade program; a Low Carbon Fuel Standard; and a comprehensive set of programs to slash short-lived climate pollutants, among other policies. Mr. Welch worked extensively with the thousands of professional scientists, engineers, lawyers and regulatory experts at CARB to devise and successfully implement policies and regulations grounded in data, science and economics. He also led CARB efforts to engage with a broad range of stakeholders, businesses and state, local, federal and international governments on a wide spectrum of issues. Prior to his service at CARB, Mr. Welch helped lead the Environmental Defense Fund’s successful sponsorship of Assembly Bill 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. He also previously served as a Partner at AJW, Inc., where he worked with innovative companies to develop regulatory, policy and market solutions for clean energy, air and transportation technologies. Mr. Welch holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Texas and a Master of Public Affairs and Juris Doctor from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of the California State Bar.