Mayor’s pick Tyrone Joo sworn in as San Francisco Environment Department director

The San Francisco Commission on the Environment on Aug. 29 welcomed Tyrone Joo as the new director of the Environment Department following a multi‑year search process that advanced candidates to the mayor under the city charter.

Commission President (speaker 3) summarized the search committee’s work, noting interviews and closed‑session votes that led to a slate of candidates forwarded to the mayor. The commission “voted unanimously to advance a slate of candidates” and the final selection rested with the mayor, the president said.

Director Joo, who the commission welcomed at the meeting, thanked commissioners and Mayor Breed. “I just wanna thank the Commission, and Mayor Breed for having faith in me to execute on the duties and responsibilities of this department,” he said, adding that he looked forward to working with department staff and the commission to “accomplish great things over the coming years.”

Commissioners praised Joo’s experience and community knowledge. One commissioner said Joo “has been such a steadfast supporter” of the department and its programs and congratulated him on the appointment. There was no remote or in‑room public comment on the appointment.

The announcement follows a recruitment process that began in 2022, included a search committee’s August 2022–February 2023 work, and closed‑session finalist interviews in March 2023. The commission said it will continue oversight of department priorities as Joo assumes leadership responsibilities.

Next steps: the commission will continue to work with the new director on ongoing departmental initiatives and bring program and budget updates to future meetings.