TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Director of Department of Public Works Steve Walsh announced on Wednesday that he will retire from Baltimore County government, effective May 22nd.

“Steve has been a steady hand, a thoughtful leader, and invaluable partner in our work to build a better Baltimore County,” said County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “On behalf of the people of Baltimore County, I extend my gratitude for his decades of dedicated service and I wish him and his entire family the best in his well-deserved retirement from County service.”

“It has been a privilege to serve the citizens of Baltimore County for more than 30 years,” Director Walsh said. “The hardworking people of this department have inspired me every single day and I’m confident that the department will continue to provide services for the residents of Baltimore County in the years to come.”

Walsh first joined Baltimore County government in 1990 as a water resources engineer and worked his way through the ranks of the Department of Public Works culminating in his appointment as Director in 2016.

With Walsh’s retirement, County Executive Olszewski has appointed Thomas Kiefer, Chief of the Bureau of Engineering and Construction, to serve as Acting Director, effective May 22, while a search for a permanent replacement is conducted.

Kiefer first came to Baltimore County as an engineer in the Bureau of Utilities in 2006 tasked with helping lead Baltimore County’s modernization of the sanitary sewer infrastructure. He advanced to the Chief of the Bureau of Utilities in 2012 and was later selected as the Chief of the Bureau of Engineering and Construction in 2016. Kiefer is the first person in county history to have been Chief of both Bureaus of Utilities and Engineering and Construction.

He has over 40 years of design, construction and operations experience and, prior to joining Baltimore County government, worked for a local engineering consulting firm as well as a global engineering construction company. Kiefer holds a Bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech, an MBA from Wilmington College, and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Maryland and Delaware.

As Acting Director of the Department of Public Works, Kiefer will be responsible for technical management and oversight of 957 employees and a $400 million operating budget with five main business units including Highways, Utilities, Engineering and Construction, Solid Waste Management, and Transportation.

“Tom is eminently qualified to provide steady leadership through this transition and I’m confident that he will help as Baltimore County begins the long road to recovery,” Olszewski said. “During his years of service, he has been involved in every aspect of management, and he has gained the respect of those in the department and across County government.”