Monica Sanchez

Meet the Director of Public Engagement
Monica Sanchez is the Director of Public Engagement and leads the Permitting Council’s stakeholder engagement and communications activities. With over a decade of experience in the federal government, Sanchez is a dedicated public servant with a proven track record of driving high-impact initiatives. In her current role, she focuses on building understanding across government agencies, industry sectors, and the public about the Permitting Council’s pivotal role in improving and transforming the federal permitting review process. 

Prior to joining the Permitting Council, Sanchez served as the Director of External Affairs for the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) where she spearheaded external messaging and engagement efforts across both public and private sectors. Sanchez was also a senior advisor to DOE leadership on climate, energy, and natural resources portfolios. 

Before her work at the DOE, Sanchez spent eight years in Congress, where she worked for the House Natural Resources Committee under Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), as well as Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and then-Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.). Her career on Capitol Hill began as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellow, where she developed her expertise in coalition building, strategic communication, and legislative affairs. 

Born and raised in New Mexico, Sanchez has a deep understanding of the American Southwest and rural communities. She earned a B.A. in Ethnic Studies and Education, with honors, from Brown University and joined the Permitting Council in January 2024.