John Hoke was named as a Deputy Director for the department's Division of Environmental Quality, effective June 17, 2025. He oversees the Air Pollution Control Program, Central Field Operations Office, St. Louis Regional Office, Southeast Regional Office, Waste Management Program and Water Protection Program.
John has over two decades of experience with the Department of Natural Resources' Division of Environmental Quality. Most recently, he served as director of the Water Protection Program, leading a talented team of professionals in implementing state and federal clean water and safe drinking water laws and regulations. Before working for the State of Missouri, John was a project geologist with a private environmental consulting firm in Houston, Texas. John holds a Master's degree in geology, with an emphasis in karst hydrology and pollutant transport, from the University of Missouri - Columbia, and a Bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Illinois - Urbana.