This morning Governor Wes Moore announced the promotion of Emmanuel “Manny” Welsh to Principal Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Administrative Officer, effective October 15. The appointment comes as part of a broader reorganization of the Governor’s Office under incoming Chief of Staff Lester Davis, who will assume his role the same day.
“Manny is a proven public servant with a deep well of expertise in the operations of government that’s vital to guiding Maryland through this unprecedented time,” said Governor Moore. “This moment is generationally defining for our state. As we diversify our economy and adjust to shifting dynamics with the federal government, his new leadership role will help ensure Marylanders continue to receive a high level of service from their state government.”
As Principal Deputy Chief of Staff, Welsh will serve as second-in-command to Davis, providing executive-level oversight of state government operations while managing day-to-day functions of the Governor’s Office. He will continue to oversee procurement operations and the Board of Public Works while working closely with the Governor’s Cabinet and senior staff to implement key priorities efficiently and effectively.
Welsh has been part of the Moore-Miller Administration since January 2023, serving first as the Governor’s liaison to the Board of Public Works and then as Deputy Chief of Staff in 2024 before this promotion. A Towson University graduate with a Master of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore, Welsh previously held senior roles with the Comptroller of Maryland beginning in 2015, including serving as chief of staff to Comptroller Peter Franchot from 2020 to 2023.
Welsh elevated to Moore’s ‘second-in-command’ and chief administrative officer – Maryland Matters
