IDEM official raises eyebrows: Lacks environmental background

MERRILLVILLE – An Iraqi war veteran is drawing scrutiny from environmental advocates who question whether his work experience is appropriate to his new job as a top state environmental adviser.

Kent Abernathy, who was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels, began work Monday as chief of staff for Indiana Department of Environmental Management Commissioner Thomas Easterly.

Abernathy has worked as a banker and business consultant and spent six years as an Army colonel. He was stationed in Baghdad, supervising a crisis team responsible for tracking Army operations worldwide and providing guidance for U.S. teams training Iraqi security forces.

But his résumé does not include any environmental experience, which troubles advocate Glenn Pratt.

Source: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette

What a nice cushy job for a military retiree, and a colonel at that! Talking about double dipping.