Josh Kastrinsky joined DEQ’s Office of Environment Education and Public Affairs in 2021, serving as deputy director of communications since 2023 and interim director of public affairs in 2025. Born in Forsyth County, he was raised in Nashville, Tenn. and has a degree in journalism from Indiana University. His career has included working in a variety of roles at newspapers in Indiana and North Carolina, environmental education at a non-profit and roles including disaster science and education communication at a national consortium funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security while at UNC-Chapel Hill. He and his family live in Durham.