Director, Office of the Great Lakes
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

As director, DeBeaussaert serves as a member of Governor Granholm’s Cabinet. He is appointed to the Great Lakes Protection Fund Board of Directors, serves on the Executive Board of the Great Lakes Commission, and is also a member of the Water Quality Board of the International Joint Commission.

DeBeaussaert served 18 years in the Michigan Legislature, 10 years in the Michigan House and eight years in the State Senate, ending in December of 2002 due to term limits. In 2003 DeBeaussaert was named vice-president for Legislative Affairs at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. He left that position to accept the Governor’s appointment.

As a member of the Legislature, DeBeaussaert focused on environmental and education issues as a member of policy committees and the Senate Appropriations Committee. He also served as a past member of the Great Lakes Commission, the Blue Ribbon Commission on Lake St. Clair and on the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Conservation Task Force. Ken has also worked in the Michigan offices of two Congressional members.

For his legislative efforts, DeBeaussaert has been honored by several organizations including the Michigan Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters, the Clinton River Watershed Council and the Michigan Association for Local Public Health.

Born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, DeBeaussaert graduated from Utica High School and received a B.A. in Political Science from Oakland University.  A lifelong resident of Macomb County, Ken resides in Clinton Township with his wife, Michelle.