Background
The son of a Swedish immigrant tailor, Alm grew up in Denver where he was fond of fishing and other outdoors activities.
The son of a Swedish immigrant tailor, Alm grew up in Denver where he was fond of fishing and other outdoors activities.
Bachelor, University Denver, 1960. Master of Public Administration, Syracuse University, 1961.
After graduating from the University of Denver, Alm decided to attend the Maxwell Graduate School of Public Administration in Syracuse, New York in 1960. Upon graduating, he interned Bureau of the Budget, where he was first introduced to the budgeting process for pollution programs throughout the government. In 1970 Russell Train, of the recently created Council on Environmental Quality, asked Alm to become his staff director
Alm accepted, and three years later was asked by William Ruckelshaus, the Environmental Protection Agency director, to become the Assistant Administrator for Planning and Management for the newly created Environmental Protection Agency. Soon after Alm arrived at Environmental Protection Agency, Ruckelshaus left for the position of Federal Bureau of Investigation director, and Russell Train became the next Environmental Protection Agency Administrator.
Alm developed the effluent guideline process, the NPDES permit program, and created financial safeguards for the construction grant program He was responsible for the economic-analysis program of the Environmental Protection Agency, to ensure that the agency would minimize the negative economic impact of its regulations.
By the mid 1970s, Alm was deeply involved in all energy issues. The agency"s mandate received less attention due to the rapid increase in prices resulting from the Organisation of Petroleum Export Countries oil embargo of 1973/1974.
He was invited to Camp David by President Ford to help create his administration"s energy policy.
He was considered an expert on budgeting, economics, and regulation. In 1979, Alm became the director of Harvard University"s energy security program After the resignation of Ronald Reagan"s first Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Ann Gorsuch, William Ruckelshaus returned to the agency and called for First Rate (at Lloyd's) Alm to serve the Agency as Deputy Administrator.
Ruckelshaus and Alm served through Reagan"s first term and then both left the government for the private sector after successfully stabilizing the agency.
Alm became the senior vice president of Science Applications International Corporation, Incorporated. in McLean, Virginia.
Alm died on July 24, 2000, due to heart failure in Virginia. Alm was one of the most influential characters in creating the government"s campaign to control and limit environmental degradation.
Before his work the Federal government had almost no effective pollution control system. After his career the government has fully functional regulations and agencies to promote environmental conservation.
His impact on environmental regulation and policy far exceeds the scope of his life and his name recognition.
Member National Academy Public Administration, Center for Excellence in Government, Center for Hazardous Materials Research (board directors). M C.
Married Ronnie Marie Elwell, September 10, 1979 (divorced). 1 child, Jessica.