Andy Bicking Named Ulster County Director of the Department of the Environment

KINGSTON, N.Y. – Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger has appointed longtime environmental policy leader Andy Bicking as the County’s new Director of the Department of the Environment.

Bicking, a 25-year veteran of environmental policy and community engagement, has lived in Ulster County for more than two decades. He succeeds Europa McGovern, who previously served as the department’s director.

“Andy’s deep roots in Ulster County and his decades of environmental policy experience and work with government at local, county, and state levels make him an ideal choice to lead our Department of the Environment,” Metzger said in a statement. “He has a proven track record of working with government and community partners to advance sensible environmental solutions and will make a great asset to the County’s leadership team.”

Bicking most recently served as Executive Director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, where he oversaw statewide conservation programs, public outreach and advocacy efforts. He previously spent more than 20 years with Scenic Hudson, rising to Director of Government Relations and Public Policy and leading major legislative campaigns and regional planning initiatives.

Throughout his career, Bicking has built coalitions in support of environmental and climate legislation, including the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act, and the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act. He has also developed training programs for municipal leaders and secured funding for environmental projects across the Hudson Valley.

“Ulster County is such a great place to live, work and raise a family, and the environment plays a big role in allowing that to happen,” Bicking said. “I’m excited to be joining the County under the leadership of County Executive Metzger and collaborating with the Legislature, Environmental Management Council, and community partners to advance the policies, programs and projects that make us more resilient and benefit all of our residents.”

Bicking holds a degree from Oregon State University’s College of Agriculture and a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University. His work has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Land Trust Alliance’s National Ambassadors Award and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Environmental Quality Award.

A resident of Esopus, Bicking lives with his wife and is the father of two grown children. In his free time, he enjoys bicycling throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley and Catskills.