Stephen Chustz earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.  He has more than 24 years of state service.  Chustz began his state career with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) in 1987.  His work at LDEQ included work in surface water enforcement, source water protection and ground water remediation and underground storage tank issues. 

Chustz became the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Coastal Management at the Department of Natural Resources in December 2008 and later, he became the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Coastal Management in October 2011. Chustz also has served as the Director of the Atchafalaya Basin Program since January 2009.