With a distinguished career spanning nearly two decades, Taylor has served in various high-profile legal roles within the U.S. government, most recently as Deputy General Counsel, Environment, Energy, & Installations, for the Department of Defense (DOD).

At DOD, Taylor was the senior legal advisor on all energy, environment, and installation issues, managing a team that provided critical advice on environmental cleanup, climate and sustainability efforts, and renewable energy planning. Notably, he led the legal efforts to defuel the Hawaii Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility following the 2021 petroleum release at the facility and was the negotiator with EPA on the affiliated consent order. He also counseled DOD clients working with the Department of Interior and with project proponents on siting and permitting offshore wind projects in and around military training areas. Taylor’s experience extends to carbon-free electricity projects, zero-emission vehicle acquisitions, sustainability efforts, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) cleanup and disposal policy, NEPA policy and decision-making, and real estate and military construction authorities. Taylor’s DOD experience equips him to counsel clients who interact with regulatory agencies or with DOD, including on legacy environmental issues and energy and defense-related project planning, compliance, and litigation.

Taylor also served as Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). As the Acting Assistant Secretary, he provided policy and performance oversight for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works program, including on several high-profile energy permitting projects and key flood control and navigability projects.

Before joining DOD, Taylor was a Trial Attorney in the Department of Justice Environment & Natural Resources Division, where he defended federal agency clients in environmental litigation and Fifth Amendment takings litigation, including leading two defense trial teams. His litigation experience includes representing federal agencies in district court and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, successfully defending high-profile environmental challenges, managing complex trial teams, and negotiating favorable settlements when necessary. For example, Taylor successfully defended high-profile NEPA litigation on controversial but critical DOD basing projects in the Western Pacific and successfully defended the Navy in a PFAS contamination claim, receiving a directed verdict in that case.

Taylor’s public service career also includes serving as Special Counsel to the Department of the Navy Office of General Counsel and as Deputy Associate Counsel in the Obama White House. He began his legal career in private practice.

Taylor is an active community member, serving on the board of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. Outside of work, he enjoys songwriting and recording music.