Peter Tester joined the agency as deputy commissioner in 2019. He previously spent years focused on addressing environmental issues in Minnesota, first at the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, then as a partner at the law firm Lindquist and Vennum. Most recently, he served as senior corporate counsel for Ecolab. Peter also served as temporary MPCA commissioner from June to November 2021.

Peter has a Bachelor of Arts in history from Boston College, a Master of Arts in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia, and he completed his law degree at Boston College Law School. He is an avid canoer, hiker, skater, hunter, and skier. Tester has also developed a passion for mountaineering, climbing Mt. Rainier (2014), Mt. Baker (2017), and Denali, the highest peak in North America (2018). Tester lives with his wife Maya and has two grown daughters.