Cordell native W. Scott Mason IV has been appointed as the new director for the American Indian Environmental Office in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of International and Tribal Affairs.
Mason, the son of Philis Mason and the late Scott Mason III, is a 2002 graduate of Cordell High School. He earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma. Mason is a fifth generation western Oklahoman and said his family has been farming in Cordell since 1906. He is also a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
In this position, Mason will be responsible for the American Indian Environmental Office’s mission to lead the agency’s efforts to protect human health and the environment in Indian country, with special emphasis on helping federally-recognized tribes administer their own environmental programs. AIEO is the national program manager for several grant, education, and communication programs and partnerships with native American tribes.
Mason was most recently vice president and executive director of federal programs at the University of Oklahoma. Before that he served on the staff of Gov. Mary Fallin and has worked as a district field representative in the United States House of Representatives.
“Scott brings a wealth of expertise and experience to his new role, and I look forward to working with him to protect human health and the environment in Indian county,” said Chad McIntosh, assistant administrator of the Office of International and Tribal Affairs. “Scott’s background and expertise will enhance our office’s ability to provide national leadership on Indian affairs throughout the agency and across the federal family.”