State Governor Joe Manchin appointed Huffman to the position late last week. Huffman will replace Stephanie Timmermeyer, who is stepping down May 1.

Manchin said Huffman's technical background had lent well to the department's needs over the past three years.

“His background and knowledge of the internal workings of the agency make him an obvious choice for this position,” said Manchin, who noted that Timmermeyer recommended Huffman for the seat.

“As we move forward with our energy policy in this state, I will be relying heavily on Randy and the DEP to ensure that we are doing so in a way that protects our natural resources for future generations."

Huffman had served as deputy cabinet secretary and as the director of the Division of Mining and Reclamation since 2005. He is a graduate of the West Virginia Institute of Technology.