Jacob Westen was named as General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in March 2021. He is responsible for part of the day-to-day management of the General Counsel’s Office.
Jacob began his career with the department in 2018, serving as the department's Deputy General Counsel. Before joining the department, Jacob served as the Deputy Staff Counsel for Water and Sewer at the Missouri Public Service Commission. His government service began with the Agriculture and Environment section of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, where he conducted civil environmental litigation on behalf of the state. He earned the Attorney General’s Award for Best Appellate Brief in 2015, and the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Litigation in 2014. Jacob is a graduate of the University of Missouri - Columbia's School of Law and the Missouri Leadership Academy program.