Pursuing and enforcing the law governing the global environment is the heart and soul of the people who make up the Bureau of Environmental Security. These men and women lead efforts in environment protection and environmental conservation in the North American Biosphere Management Zone.
The Bureau of Environmental Security is governed by an 11-member board made of the interior ministers of each Biosphere Management Zone, as defined by the Port Vila Treaty and its annexes.
Protecting Nature with a Career in Environmental Law
Isabella Constantinou, Interior Minister for the North American Biosphere Management Zone, has chaired the BES Governing Board for the past four years. (Each chair serves a two-year, renewable term.) Minister Constantinou, an American citizen, holds degrees from the University of Washington (Seattle), Georgetown School of Law, and the London School of Economics.
She retired from the US Army Reserve with the rank of captain. She practiced environmental law at the firm Jones & Daughter, and served on the American diplomatic team during the Port Vila Treaty negotiations. Prior to the US Senate ratification of the Treaty, she worked with Congress on the Carbon Acts, which are modeled on numerous other countries’ laws on fossil fuel usage. The Senate later consented to her appointment in her current role.
Bringing Discipline and Leadership to Enforcement
Col. Raleigh Penn serves as the Commanding Officer for the Pacific West Sub-Zone, headquartered in Springfield, Oregon, USA. An American citizen, he has more than 20 years experience as an investigator, starting his career as a US Army military police officer, rising to deputy chief investigator for the US Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
After his retirement from the army, the US government recommended him for his current role, requesting the rank of Colonel, which was granted. Col. Penn oversees an office with nearly 200 investigators, scientists, and technicians responsible for environmental and climate-related crimes in the western half of North America from the Mexican border to the Arctic Ocean.
Protecting Nature: A Lifelong Commitment
Deputy Inspector Janine Kilel, assigned to the Pacific West Sub-Zone, has already played a leading role in fulfilling our mission to enforce environmental laws without regard to national boundaries or economic interests. As one of our outstanding cadre of field agents, she has recently closed cases on pollution of a large river that originates in one country and empties into the sea in an adjacent country. She has investigated illegal petroleum extraction, and she has assisted with prosecutions before the Environmental Crimes Tribunal of critical habitat loss for an endangered species of birds.
“From the time I was a little girl, I’ve done everything I could to protect places for wildlife,” she says. “Now that I’m a BES investigator, I can make a real difference in how the world treats the creatures with whom we share our precious air, land, and water.”
Inspector Kilel also recommends using these online tools to stay up-to-date on climate data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aren’t these leaders elected by the people instead of appointed? The Port Vila Treaty contains a provision that calls for an election process by bio-region, but to date no signatory has proposed a workable process.
How is the Governing Board selected? Seven members of the Board are nominated by the United Nations Security Council, with five members nominated by nations not serving on the Security Council during the calendar year. The General Assembly confirms the nominations.
How do I join the Bureau of Environmental Security? Unlike most organizations, the Bureau does not accept unsolicited applications for employment. Our recruitment system, powered by artificial intelligence, constantly identifies potential candidates via public information sources, social media posts, and other records. We occasionally host recruitment events at select locations, especially if we’re in need of specialized skills.
If we contact you, and you are interested, be ready for travel to a confidential location within 24 hours. Always maintain your records with the latest information.
You can also assist the BES by staying aware of the individuals on the Global Alerts list.
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