He currently works at the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). Since July 2024 has served as the Associate Director in the Air Quality Division, which manages outdoor air quality permitting, compliance, monitoring, and planning. He previously served as the Branch Chief in charge of a new branch for air quality planning that oversees air quality regulations, emissions inventory, vehicle emissions inspections oversight, and the District’s Volkswagen Settlement program, among other projects. As a manager, he is putting strength-based leadership forward as the means to achieve the most in the branch.
He was also elected as a City Councilmember for the City of Mount Rainier, MD, representing Ward 2 in May 2025. During his time on the Council, he has championed environmental and safety initiatives. He volunteered on city-appointed position on the Environmental Protection Board, eventually becoming chair of the group prior to his time on Council.
In 2019, he began as the lead volunteer on the Sierra Club Climate Parents 100% Clean Energy Schools campaign in Prince George's County, Maryland, where he saw through a campaign to achieve a commitment by Prince George's County Public Schools to phase out fossil fuel use. In March 2021, this campaign resulted in the adoption of a resolution committing to 100% Clean Energy Schools. He then co-chaired the workgroup that stemmed from the resolution to develop an equity-focused first-in-the-nation Climate Change Action Plan for a school system, which was formally adopted by the Board of Education in 2022.
He also elected to sit on the Executive Committee for the Prince George's County Group for the Sierra Club for two terms, running from January 2021 to December 2024.
Prior to DOEE, he was employed at the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) where he worked with the states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to reduce ozone pollution and impacts on visibility in National Parks in the region. This work focused on writing reports, collaborating with stakeholders, and coordinating between the states. A particular area of note was working to digest the views of the 13 members to develop cohesive policies and a focus of technical analysis. He also managed the organization’s grants.
In 2008, he went to graduate school to undertake a career change at the Nicholas School of the Environment, where he eventually received a Master's in Environmental Management with a focus on Environmental Economics and Policy. Issues involving air pollution, transportation, and climate change were his primary focus. His master's project focused on reducing the use of single-occupancy vehicles. He also traveled both through class trips and on breaks to various environmentally interesting locations.
Following undergraduate he began a career in website development. He worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the online fundraising department during the 2006 election cycle, a software startup called Smart Logic Solutions, where his primary project involved electronic health records, and started his own part-time freelance web consulting business, H LiNa K Ventures. He also began volunteering with environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club of Texas, One Less Car, and 1,000 Friends of Maryland.
Joseph attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where he majored in Computer Science with a minor in English. He was also a DJ, the music director, and the director of live music at the college radio station, WMUC, and played tuba with the University of Maryland College Band.
Joseph was born in Bel Air, Maryland, where he lived until college. During his younger years, he enjoyed school, math in particular, played tuba, and was involved in Scouting, eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout.
He was also elected as a City Councilmember for the City of Mount Rainier, MD, representing Ward 2 in May 2025. During his time on the Council, he has championed environmental and safety initiatives. He volunteered on city-appointed position on the Environmental Protection Board, eventually becoming chair of the group prior to his time on Council.
In 2019, he began as the lead volunteer on the Sierra Club Climate Parents 100% Clean Energy Schools campaign in Prince George's County, Maryland, where he saw through a campaign to achieve a commitment by Prince George's County Public Schools to phase out fossil fuel use. In March 2021, this campaign resulted in the adoption of a resolution committing to 100% Clean Energy Schools. He then co-chaired the workgroup that stemmed from the resolution to develop an equity-focused first-in-the-nation Climate Change Action Plan for a school system, which was formally adopted by the Board of Education in 2022.
He also elected to sit on the Executive Committee for the Prince George's County Group for the Sierra Club for two terms, running from January 2021 to December 2024.
Prior to DOEE, he was employed at the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) where he worked with the states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to reduce ozone pollution and impacts on visibility in National Parks in the region. This work focused on writing reports, collaborating with stakeholders, and coordinating between the states. A particular area of note was working to digest the views of the 13 members to develop cohesive policies and a focus of technical analysis. He also managed the organization’s grants.
In 2008, he went to graduate school to undertake a career change at the Nicholas School of the Environment, where he eventually received a Master's in Environmental Management with a focus on Environmental Economics and Policy. Issues involving air pollution, transportation, and climate change were his primary focus. His master's project focused on reducing the use of single-occupancy vehicles. He also traveled both through class trips and on breaks to various environmentally interesting locations.
Following undergraduate he began a career in website development. He worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the online fundraising department during the 2006 election cycle, a software startup called Smart Logic Solutions, where his primary project involved electronic health records, and started his own part-time freelance web consulting business, H LiNa K Ventures. He also began volunteering with environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club of Texas, One Less Car, and 1,000 Friends of Maryland.
Joseph attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where he majored in Computer Science with a minor in English. He was also a DJ, the music director, and the director of live music at the college radio station, WMUC, and played tuba with the University of Maryland College Band.
Joseph was born in Bel Air, Maryland, where he lived until college. During his younger years, he enjoyed school, math in particular, played tuba, and was involved in Scouting, eventually earning the rank of Eagle Scout.