Lance Himes

Lance Himes is Interim Director for the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). Himes has worked at ODH for more than 16 years and values the opportunity to help advance public health in Ohio. He has previously served as director, interim director Chief of Staff and general counsel for ODH.

Before becoming Chief of Staff and general counsel, Himes’s legal work focused primarily on environmental health and compliance issues. One of his chief accomplishments was the successful legal implementation of Ohio’s smoke- free workplace law and rules. He also played a leading role in an extensive overhaul of Ohio’s sewage treatment regulations; helping reform a set of laws that had not been updated since 1977.

Prior to joining ODH, Himes practiced law in Cincinnati for seven years, with a focus on environmental matters.  He graduated from Wittenberg University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and geography.  He received his law degree from the University of Cincinnati, College of Law.