California Air Resources Board

SACRAMENTO - Today the California Air Resources Board announced the 2012 winners of the Haagen-Smit Air Awards, the premier state-government award recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to improving air quality. 

"This year's recipients reflect the ideals and dedication that have helped make California a pioneer in cleaning up air pollution," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols."They've driven public policy with their innovative ideas, and educated our communities on the importance of air quality. All three have achieved sustained results through excellence in engaging with the general public, stakeholders and experts to make significant contributions to cleaner air and a healthier California." 

The 2012 recipients are: 

Mr. Tom Cackette – for his work in the area of environmental policy.  Mr. Cackette has been with the  ARB since 1982, and serves as its Chief Deputy Executive Officer, managing several of ARB’s key programs.   Prior to coming to ARB, Mr. Cackette served as a legislative lobbyist for ARB and worked eight years for the U.S. EPA’s Motor Vehicle Emissions Laboratory in a variety of technical, management, and policy positions.  He holds a Master’s of Science degree in Engineering.  Mr. Cackette is most notably recognized for his guidance and perseverance in mobile source control regulations for the ARB, many of which have influenced national and international policies.  These include Low-Emission Vehicle and Zero-Emission Vehicle regulations, as well as establishing heavy-duty vehicle standards with diesel manufacturers that dramatically reduced pollutants.  Mr. Cackette was instrumental in establishing groundbreaking funding incentives to assist in the development and success of these regulations and standards geared to clean air vehicle technologies that continue California’s tradition of trailblazing clean transportation policies.  His accomplishments have transcended geographical boundaries and his leadership and vision are embedded in the countries and continents where clean transportation policies carry California’s imprint. Though he is retiring from ARB this year, his work and passion to clean up air pollution from vehicles and improve California’s air quality will be a long-standing legacy.

Ms. Andrea M. Hricko – for her work in the area of public education.  Ms. Hricko is a Professor of Clinical Prevention Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, as well as the Director of the Community Outreach and Education Program of the Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center (a partnership between USC and UCLA.)  Ms. Hricko also directs the Community outreach and Translation Core of the USC/UCLA Children’s Environmental Health Center.  She has a Masters of Public Health from the University of North Carolina and has spent more than 40 years in the public health field. Her professional experience includes serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration.  She is a contributing author for the journal Environmental Health Perspectives and an Emmy Award winning writer/producer of consumer and environmental stories for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.  Her current work involves environmental justice topics surrounding public health impacts from goods movement in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.  Ms. Hricko serves on the U.S. EPA National Environmental Justice Committee’s Working Group on Ports and Goods Movement, the Governor of California’s Cabinet-Level Goods Movement Action Plan Integrating Work Group and the Southern California Association of Governments’ Goods Movement Task Force.  She is also the founder of “The Impact Project” a nationwide community academic partnership focused on reducing the health impacts of international trade. Ms. Hricko is an inspiration for empowering community-based organizations to educate their communities and local policymakers about health effects of air pollution and how to advocate for cleaner air and better land use decision making.  

Dr. Ronald O. Loveridge – for his work in the area of environmental policy.  Dr. Loveridge has served on the Air Resources Board for eight years.  He has been the Mayor of Riverside since 1994 and has served on the South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board since 1995.  Before becoming Mayor, Dr. Loveridge was a member of the Riverside City Council from 1979 to 1994.  He is also an Associate Professor in Political Science at the University of California Riverside, where he has taught since 1965.  Dr. Loveridge has a Master’s and Doctorate in political science from Stanford University.  Dr. Loveridge was President of the League of California Cities, and a member of the Regional Council of the Southern California Association of Governments.  He has been honored by the American Lung Association for his leadership in protecting public health from air pollution.  In 2005 he received the National Association of Regional Councils Tom Bradley Award for his outstanding leadership and commitment to improving transportation and maintaining the region’s preferred quality of life.  As Mayor he implemented a Strategic Action Plan to make Riverside a Model Clean Air City in 2002.  In 2005 Riverside was recognized with an annual award by the South Coast AQMD as a Model Clean Air Community.  In 2005 he appointed a Clean Air Task Force for the city that in  2007 put forth a “Sustainable Riverside Policy Statement” detailing eight main directives including urban forestry, solar initiatives, alternative transportation modes, green building efforts, and water and air quality improvements.  In 2009 Riverside was officially designated the first “Emerald City” by California Department of Conservation Director Bridgett Luther.  Dr. Loveridge has been a long standing champion of plug-in electric vehicles and community readiness.  As a member of both the Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District Governing Board, he played a key role as liaison between environmental groups, local governments, community residents and the railroads, helping to identify mitigation measures and resolve critical issues at high-risk rail yards.  Dr. Loveridge is on the Advisory Board of the non-profit organization Riverside County, Clean Air Now, which since 1969 is the oldest most effective volunteer advocacy group for clean air in Southern California.

The Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award was named after Dr. Arie Haagen-Smit, ARB’s first chairman known to many as the “father” of air pollution control.  His research concluded that most of California’s smog resulted from photochemistry- the reaction of sunlight with industrial and motor vehicle exhaust to create ozone.  This breakthrough became the foundation upon which today’s air pollution standards are based.  The Haagen- Smit award winners continue this legacy of advancing air pollution science and forging the way for effective control programs.  

For a list of all past award winner’s visit:
https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/hsawards/hscleanairawards2001-2011.pdf