Commissioner Toby Baker

Along with his two fellow full-time commissioners, Baker establishes overall agency direction and policy, and makes final determinations on contested permitting and enforcement matters.

Baker also serves as Governor Perry’s appointee to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council and the Western States Water Council, represents Texas on the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Management Team, and serves on the Coastal Land Advisory Board. Prior to his appointment, Baker was a policy and budget advisor on energy, natural resources and agriculture issues for the Governor’s Office, where he was also the liaison between the office and members of the Legislature, constituents, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the TCEQ, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Department of Agriculture, and the Texas Animal Health Commission. He is a past natural resource policy advisor to Sen. Craig Estes, and the former director and clerk of the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Coastal Resources. Baker received a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, and a Master of Public Service and Administration from the Texas A&M George Bush School of Government and Public Service. He is also a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School and the Governor’s Executive Development Program at the University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs.