Cities run on details. The kind most residents never see, but feel every day. In Gaithersburg, that work spans public safety and public works, parks and programs, planning, communication, human resources, and legal guidance that supports nearly every decision the City makes.
In this feature, we highlight eight department leaders who keep Gaithersburg moving through steady service and long-range thinking. Some oversee crews working overnight to clear roads after a storm. Others manage the systems that keep residents informed during emergencies, guide future development through master planning, or help staff across departments solve problems before they become bigger issues.
BRIAN FIELDS
Director, Department of Public Works
What does Public Works oversee in Gaithersburg?
Fields oversees Engineering Services, Facilities Maintenance, Capital Projects, Operations, and Environmental Services, managing the City’s technical design, construction, and infrastructure needs.
What might residents not realize your department handles?
Public Works provides on-demand bulk refuse collection for all single-family homes and townhomes, including appliances, mattresses, and furniture.
What makes you proud of your team right now?
During the most recent snowstorm, crews reported at 10 p.m. on a Saturday and worked through the night to ensure City streets were safe the next morning.
CAROLYN MULLER
Director, Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture
What does your department do for the City?
Parks, Recreation and Culture touches every age group, overseeing 30 parks and 15 facilities while offering hundreds of cultural, recreational, and community activities.
What do people often overlook?
Beyond camps and youth programs, the department offers extensive adult programming, from farmers markets and fitness classes to arts programs and senior day trips.
What are you excited about right now?
The opening of Pleasant View Park and progress on Crown Farm Park, Blohm Park trail improvements, and planning for the renovation of Walder Park.
COURTNEY DAVIS
Director, Department of Communication and Public Engagement
What is your department responsible for?
The department keeps residents informed through social media, the City website, digital signage, newsletters, and GTV, while also managing the City’s brand and design.
What’s something residents might not realize you do?
The team is part of the emergency weather response, communicating closures and delays before most residents start their day.
What recent work are you proud of?
A complete City website refresh completed in under six months, improving usability, layout, search, and homepage video integration.
FRANK JOHNSON
City Attorney
What does the City Attorney’s Office do?
The office provides legal advice across all departments, helping prevent issues, support coordination, and guide opportunities as they arise.
What would surprise residents?
The office is involved in much of what the City does—from contracts to service support—often preventing issues before they escalate.
Who is an unsung hero?
Bry-Nia Barnes, the legal assistant who manages contract and document approvals across every department with consistency, patience, and care.
GREG MANN
Director, Department of Planning and Code Administration
What does your department oversee?
Planning, zoning, permitting, and inspections, including Master Plan updates, development review, and building safety compliance.
What project are you proud of?
Build Gaithersburg 2040, the City’s Master Plan update focused on Land Use and Transportation, shaped by ongoing public engagement.
Who are the unsung heroes?
Administrative technicians who process applications and help residents and businesses navigate the permitting system.
KIM YOCKLIN
Director, Department of Human Resources
What does Human Resources focus on?
Recruitment, retention, employee well-being, fair compensation, and compliance with labor laws and regulations.
What’s often overlooked?
Risk management, including compliance, safety, investigations, and documentation that protect the organization.
What keeps the City running behind the scenes?
Strategic workforce planning that ensures the right people are in the right roles at the right time.
MARK SROKA
Chief of Gaithersburg Police
What is the department’s primary responsibility?
Providing 24/7 coverage and responding to calls for service within City limits.
How does the department approach problem solving?
Through community action teams and collaboration when appropriate.
What guides deployment decisions?
The Data Driven Approach to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS), using data analysis to focus resources where they are needed most.
TOM LONERGAN-SEEGER
Assistant City Manager
What does your role involve?
Overseeing community, neighborhood, and housing services, supporting vulnerable populations, and managing special projects.
What might residents not realize you handle?
Cell tower and cable franchise agreements between service providers and the City.
What recent work are you proud of?
Updates to the Landlord-Tenant Relations code, strengthening protections and aligning with State and County regulations.