Chris Frey is the Associate Dean for Research and Infrastructure of the College of Engineering, and the Glenn E. and Phyllis J. Futrell Distinguished University Professor of environmental engineering in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, at North Carolina State University. His research includes measurement and modeling of human exposure to air pollution, measurement and modeling of vehicle emissions, probabilistic and sensitivity analysis methods, and probabilistic assessment of power generation environmental technologies. He has led over 70 research studies, published over 150 peer reviewed journal papers, and delivered over 200 invited talks nationally and internationally. He has taught courses on air pollution control, air quality, environmental exposure and risk assessment, transportation energy and emissions, civil engineering systems, and sustainable infrastructure. Dr. Frey has been on the faculty at NCSU for over 30 years.

Dr. Frey was on leave from NCSU from February 1, 2021 to September 30, 2024 to serve at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was appointed by President Biden as Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science Policy on February 1, 2021, providing strategic direction for EPA research and science policy. Dr. Frey was subsequently nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the United States Senate as Assistant Administrator for Research and Development of the U.S. EPA, a role in which he served from May 25, 2022 to September 30, 2024. He led the EPA Office of Research and Development, with an annual budget of over $500M, over 1500 Federal FTE, and 12 locations across the U.S. with a mission to develop and translate science to inform decisions within the Agency and of Agency partners including states, Tribes, local and territorial governments, and communities. He also served as the Agency’s Science Advisor.