Ronné Adkins, Ph.D.

Deputy Commissioner

Bureau of Environment

Dr. Ronné Adkins became Deputy Commissioner for the Bureau of Environment (BOE) in September 2024, bringing with him 20 years of experience in public service and the environmental field, including 10 years with the department. He served as Director of the Division of Stakeholder Engagement overseeing the Office of External Affairs, Office of Sustainable Practices, and the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program from May 2022 until his appointment of Deputy Commissioner for BOE. Dr. Adkins also served as director of the Office of External Affairs from 2021-2022 where he was the primary point of contact for the public and stakeholders in the region that covers Shelby, Fayette, and Tipton counties. Previously, he was director of the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program, which provides free environmental consulting services to Tennessee small businesses.

Dr. Adkins earned his B.A. in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College, an M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, and a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Memphis, where he was also a National Science Foundation Fellow. He is a native Tennessean, husband, and father of two boys and enjoys hiking, fishing, hunting, biking, coaching baseball, and a wide variety of outdoor activities.