County Executive Olszewski Nominates Heang Tan as Department of Aging Director

TOWSON, MD – Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today nominated Heang Tan to serve as director of the Baltimore County Department of Aging. Tan brings more than 20 years of experience in public service, having most recently served as deputy health commissioner for the division of aging and care services in the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD).

“Ensuring that our older adults can age with dignity is a priority in Baltimore County, and we have a duty to select leaders who will enable our seniors to build connections, access care, and feel secure,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “Heang has spent more than 20 years addressing critical challenges to vulnerable communities and older adults, and I am confident that under her leadership, Baltimore County can continue to invest in older adults, prioritize their quality of life, and deliver the world-class care they deserve.”
 
Tan has served as deputy commissioner since 2016, leading Baltimore City’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA) within the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD). She has a proven track record in managing large-scale programs that address the complex needs of older adults. Under her leadership, the AAA has developed comprehensive citywide strategies to support aging communities, secured vital federal funding for expanded services, and addressed urgent health challenges. Tan has also modernized Baltimore’s Aging and Disability Resource Center, ensuring best practices in senior care and service delivery. Before joining the Baltimore City government, she was the program director at the Society for New Communications Research, where she worked in Connecticut to advance health equity statewide, and provided direct services to Cambodian refugees and trauma survivors as an associate director at Khmer Health Advocates. Tan is a graduate of Bates College. 

In addition, Tan currently serves as national first vice president for USAging, the leading association representing and supporting the network of Area Agencies on Aging across the country. 

Tan, who arrived in the United States as a refugee from Cambodia in the 1980s, was raised by her grandparents and later served as their family caregiver as they aged. She will be the first woman of Asian descent to lead a Baltimore County department.

“Older adults are invaluable assets to our community—caregivers, teachers, and leaders who give selflessly every day. I am excited to join the Baltimore County team to continue advancing aging services,” said Tan. “My commitment to aging services is deeply personal, and my experiences have profoundly shaped my perspective on aging and caregiving. I look forward to leveraging my personal and professional experience to ensure all of our residents can age with dignity, and access the support they need.”

As director of the Baltimore County Department of Aging, Tan will manage an operating budget of $18.6 million, lead a team of nearly 200 employees, and oversee a vast network of facilities and programs that serve senior residents of Baltimore County, who make up approximately 25 percent of the County’s population. She will continue the department’s focus on the service needs and trends of the senior community and dedicated work on intergenerational connections and programming.

Tan’s nomination is subject to confirmation by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the County Council.