Gregory Sayles

Dr. Sayles is the Director of EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC). NHSRC conducts research and develops technologies that build EPA’s capability to carry out its homeland security responsibilities. Research topics include contamination detection and characterization, protection of water systems, fate and transport, exposure assessment, and cleanup of contaminated indoor and outdoor areas and water systems. The Center employs almost 50 federal staff and is located in Cincinnati, OH (headquarters), Washington, DC, Research Triangle Park, NC, and Las Vegas, NV.

Dr. Sayles brings more than 20 years of research, planning, and management experience to this position. He began his career in the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) as a research chemical engineer supporting the Agency’s cleanup program by developing approaches to remediate contaminated soils and sediments. Dr. Sayles built a highly successful government (EPA, DOE, DoD)-industry (DuPont, GE, Monsanto) partnership to develop cleanup approaches for chlorinated solvents. He later served in various ORD leadership positions associated with the Drinking Water, Pesticides, and Endocrine Disrupting Chemical research programs.

Dr. Sayles joined NHSRC in 2007 and held the positions of Associate Director and Acting Deputy Director for Management. He led the writing of the 2008 and 2011 research plans, built the Center’s innovative performance and accountability program, and developed customer-centric approaches to planning, research and product development. 

Dr. Sayles earned chemical engineering degrees from the California Institute of Technology (B.S.), the University of California, Davis (M.S.), and North Carolina State University (Ph.D.). He has held an adjunct faculty position at the University of Cincinnati, advised postdoctoral fellows and graduate students, and served on and directed the boards of several nonprofit organizations.