Olszewski Announces D'Andrea L. Walker to be Appointed as Administrative Officer, Makes Additional Senior Leadership Announcements

TOWSON, MD — Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced plans to appoint D’Andrea L. Walker as Baltimore County Administrative Officer.

Walker, who currently serves as Director of the Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation, will succeed Stacy L. Rodgers who is retiring from Baltimore County government next month after serving more than 30 years in federal, state, and local government agencies and non-profit organizations.

“D’Andrea is a forward-thinking leader and a vital member of our administration whose innovative efforts have consistently improved County operations — and delivered for those we serve. I am thrilled to appoint her to this role to build on that impressive record,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “She leads by example and shares our vision to deliver equitable, efficient and accessible services for every resident, and I have absolute confidence that D’Andrea will build upon the strong foundation laid by Stacy Rodgers — continuing to shape a better Baltimore County for generations to come.”

“I am so proud of all we have accomplished together to create a better Baltimore County where every resident can live, study, work, raise a family, and age gracefully. We also recognize there is more work to do. I am very pleased that County Executive Olszewski has selected Director Walker to serve as the next County Administrative Officer and build upon our shared success,” Rodgers said. “Director Walker is a well-qualified public servant, an outstanding administrator, and a true team player who knows County government well. I am confident she will do outstanding job in continuing to provide excellence in governance.”

As Director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation, Walker leads a department of nearly 1,000 employees and manages an over $500 million operating budget with a total portfolio of more than $1 billion, including capital and the metropolitan district funds. Under her leadership, DPWT has modernized programs and improved services, including bringing back residential bulk trash collection for the first time since 1992, announcing plans to significantly extend the life of the County’s landfill, launching the Towson Loop, Baltimore County’s first free locally-operated transit service, and more.

Previously she served as Baltimore County’s first dedicated Deputy Director for Transportation and prior to joining County government served as Associate Director for Transportation at the Prince George’s County Department of Public Works and Transportation. She has also held senior roles, with the Maryland Transit Administration, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, the Maryland Department of General Services, and the Maryland Governor’s Office. Walker holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from Morgan State University.

As County Administrative Officer, she will be responsible for directing Baltimore County government’s day-to-day operations, including overseeing the efforts of County departments.

“I thank County Executive Olszewski for his confidence in me and for the incredible honor of this appointment. This opportunity is humbling and I could not be more excited to build on the incredible legacy of Stacy L. Rodgers who I am proud to call a friend and mentor,” said Walker. “For nearly three decades, I have been a proud public servant and I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Baltimore County in this new role for years to come.”

Walker’s appointment as County Administrative Officer is subject to County Council approval, which is currently expected to be considered on Monday, April 15.

OLSZEWSKI MAKES SENIOR LEADERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENTS
Olszewski today also made the following additional senior leadership announcements:

• Renee Coleman will be appointed as Director of the Office of Human Resources (OHR).
• Gregory Strella has been named Chief Sustainability Officer.
• Lauren Buckler, P.E., CEM, LEED AP, who currently serves as Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT), will be named Acting Director contingent upon Walker’s affirmative appointment as County Administrative Officer by the County Council.
• Mike Fried has announced plans to depart his role as of Director of the of the Office of Information Technology, effective April 1. Christopher Martin, who currently serves as OIT Deputy Director, will be named Acting Director following Fried’s departure.
• Tracey Paliath is now serving as the Executive Director of the Baltimore County Ethics Commission.

“The key to building a better Baltimore County is building a great team, and I am thrilled that these talented individuals will put their experience and passion to work on behalf of our residents and communities,” Olszewski said.

Coleman has served as Acting Director of the Baltimore County Office of Human Resources since November 2023 and previously served as the Office’s Deputy Director for Operations. She brings over 12 years of experience in the human resource and management field, having served in leadership roles with the Baltimore City Department of Housing, the Baltimore City Department of Human Resources, and in the private sector. Coleman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Clark Atlanta University and is certified as a Senior HR Professional with the Public Sector HR Association.

Strella most recently served as Director of Stewardship at Pearlstone, an agency of The Associated and the headquarters of Adamah, the largest Jewish environmental organization in North America. Prior to joining Pearlstone in 2015, he helped lead the establishment and development of Great Kids Farm, a 33-acre farm-based education campus for Baltimore City Public School students. As Baltimore County’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Strella will lead the County's efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and to promote enterprise-wide sustainability efforts. He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

Buckler has served as Deputy Director for the Department of Public Works and Transportation since 2021. Prior to joining County government, she held several senior leadership positions with the Maryland Department of General Services (DGS), including as Assistant Secretary of Design, Construction & Energy. She began her career in the private sector working for design and construction companies headquartered in Maryland. She is a graduate of Leadership Maryland and was recognized by The Daily Record as a Leading Women winner. A Baltimore County native and graduate of Loch Raven High School, Buckler holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and a Master’s degree from George Washington University.

Martin currently serves as Deputy Director of the Office of Information Technology, where he provides leadership and guidance in critical areas of technology administration, including budgeting, resource development and allocation, policy formation, technology evaluation, and service development. He previously served as the Office’s IT Endpoint Manager where oversaw multiple internal teams and streamlined technology initiatives and improved internal processes. Prior to joining County government, Martin served for over a decade in information technology roles with the University of Baltimore. He holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems from the University of Baltimore.

Paliath most recently served as the Director of Government Relations for the Maryland Association of Community Services, an organization dedicated to strengthening agencies to better support people with developmental disabilities. She previously served as the Assistant Director of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, as the Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Human Services, and worked for THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Federation of Baltimore as the Director of Economic Services for Jewish Community Services. Paliath holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Maryland, College Park and Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Coleman’s appointment will be subject to County Council approval.