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Mikayla Baker

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Member profile details

PERSONAL INFO

Class

Class 33

First Name

Mikayla

Last Name

Baker

Occupation

Environmental Program Manager

COMPANY INFO

Company Name

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

Title

Environmental Program Manager

Company Website

azdeq.gov

MAILING ADDRESS

City

Chino Valley

State

Arizona

County

Yavapai County

OTHER INFO

Photo

Recognition

CENTRL Alumni Committee

Bio

Mikayla Baker is the Environmental Program Manager for Surface Water Sampling and Source Identification at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. With a rich background spanning ranching, firefighting, and higher education, Mikayla has developed extensive expertise in public service and environmental management.

Growing up as a second-generation rancher in Dewey, Arizona, Mikayla spent 22 years on her family's cattle and goat ranch where she worked with multiple fire agencies to create defensible space in the wildland urban interface using goats. There, Mikayla found a love for fire and she then transitioned to wildland firefighting with the United States Forest Service after graduating high school. Mikayla was then afforded the opportunity to begin her career in fire science education at Yavapai Community College, where she played a key role in developing and overseeing the Fire Science degree program, eventually becoming the Fire Science Director. During her tenure, she created a program for high school JTED students and collaborated with local fire departments to establish one of the top Fire Academies in Arizona.

Mikayla’s experience also includes serving as the logistics chief for Yavapai County's emergency operations center during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring the availability of medical supplies and public safety through coordination with various agencies. At the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, she has revitalized the state's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program and manages multiple state water quality initiatives, including fish consumption advisories, harmful algal blooms, and the Arizona State Water Quality Labs.

Her educational achievements include an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science from Yavapai College, a Bachelor of Science in Public Service and Public Policy with an emphasis in Leadership Management and a Minor in Urban Planning and Development from Arizona State University, and certifications as a wildland firefighter, structural firefighter, EMT, fire instructor, and certified public manager.

Mikayla's skills encompass public education, firefighting, emergency management, higher education, environmental policy, and community engagement. On her off time she enjoys rock crawling with jeeps in Southern Utah and Arizona, hiking, working out, reading, and exploring new places and enjoys volunteering for the Firefighter Angels Foundation and other fire charities when she can.

Recognized by Governor Hobbs for her TMDL team’s community engagement efforts on the Queen Creek TMDL, Mikayla continues to lead and innovate in environmental quality and public service, striving for a citizen centered approach to government processes and implementation.

4341 E Broadway Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85040
602-827-8227

Arizona Center for Rural Leadership is a Public Private Partnership with The University of Arizona.

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