Darrell K. Smith is President & Chief Executive Officer of the National Waste and Recycling Association. Since 2002, Darrell has been active in the public policy arena in Washington, DC. Previous to his current position in the waste industry, he represented the mining, petroleum and chemical industries. Darrell has a reputation of assisting heavy industry in the promotion of a positive, progressive image. Darrell received a Bachelor of Science degree from The Citadel, and a Master of Public Health degree in environmental science from the University of South Carolina. He also possesses a Doctorate in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University, where his research interests involved the resolution of environmental conflicts. Darrell's dissertation is listed as Noteworthy by the Taos Institute. Prior to his public policy career, Darrell worked in the environmental and safety compliance fields for a number of industries including hazardous waste, telecommunications and electronics. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.