Governor Wes Moore has appointed Gabriel M. Moreno (District 13), Derrick L. Coley (District 24), and Darrell C. Odom, Sr. (District 27A) to fill vacancies in the Maryland House of Delegates. The Governor noted that all three appointees bring “a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to public service,” highlighting their backgrounds in legal advocacy, education, county government, and public safety.
Gabriel M. Moreno — District 13 (Howard County)
Gabriel Moreno joins the General Assembly following years of work in immigrant legal advocacy. Most recently, he served as CEO of the Luminus Network for New Americans, leading strategic and fiscal efforts to expand legal and community support for immigrants, refugees, and asylees. Moreno previously worked as a national senior attorney for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), providing representation for children impacted by family separation policies and mentoring pro bono counsel throughout the region.
Moreno also brings experience from several state and local commissions, including the Maryland Attorney General’s Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention and the Governor’s Commission on Hispanic and Latin American Community Affairs. He is an elected member of the Howard County Democratic Central Committee and has served on the Maryland Judiciary’s character committee. Moreno earned his law degree from the Massachusetts School of Law and holds bachelor’s degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso and Texas A&M University.
Derrick L. Coley — District 24 (Prince George’s County)
Derrick Coley currently serves as deputy director of the Prince George’s County Department of Environment, overseeing animal services, climate and energy initiatives, legislative affairs, and personnel management. His career also includes roles in higher education policy and external relations, including with the Maryland Higher Education Commission and Bowie State University.
Coley previously held senior leadership roles in the Prince George’s County Office of the County Executive, serving as deputy chief of staff and later chief of staff. In those positions, he helped manage county operations and directed federal appropriations activities. Coley holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University, a master’s in international environment policy from American University, and is currently a Doctor of Education candidate at Bowie State University.
Darrell C. Odom, Sr. — District 27A (Prince George’s & Charles Counties)
Darrell Odom, Sr. brings decades of service in public safety and the military. His tenure with the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department spanned from 1980 to 2004, rising to acting fire chief. During this period, he oversaw departmental operations and helped implement the Fire/EMS Paramedic Ambulance program, which expanded paramedic deployment and reduced emergency response times County-wide.
Odom also completed a 31-year military career across the U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard, retiring as a master chief maritime enforcement specialist. His assignments included serving as reserve command master chief for the Deployable Operations Group, supporting 27 specialized units and over 1,200 reservists. Odom holds a bachelor’s degree in fire science from the University of Maryland Global Campus and an associate degree from Prince George’s Community College, and is a graduate of the National Defense University’s Keystone Command Senior Enlisted Leader Course.
