BALTIMORE, MD.  — Rudolph S. Chow, P.E., Director of the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) since 2014, has announced he will retire from the City effective Feb. 1, 2020.  Director Chow will retire having completed nine years of service with the Department.

Director Chow was recently named and recognized as a Top Ten Leader in the industry by the American Public Works Association.  He will leave an agency dramatically changed from the one he took over as Director nearly six years ago.

The strong, innovative financial management and capital investment plans he put in place ensure a less costly and more sustainable water and wastewater infrastructure for future generations including his commitment to replacing at minimum 15 miles of water mains each year. The Bureau of Solid Waste was reconfigured into a system of quadrants, enhancing responsiveness and accountability to the City’s neighborhoods. The proactive rat rubout program, municipal trash cans, solar-powered compacting trash cans in business districts, and city-wide street sweeping are all making Baltimore City cleaner. DPW now trains young Baltimore residents for careers in the water industry through the YH₂O program, and prepares minority, women, and disadvantaged entrepreneurs to do business with the City through its Small Business Development Program. In addition, he has added and progressively began a review of all aspects of the Department and how it services its customers through equity and inclusionary factors.

In his retirement notice to Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young, Director Chow noted that under his leadership DPW has “achieved compliance across a range of the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act regulatory requirements. The Department’s performance under both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Maryland State Government has met or exceeded regulatory mandates.”

Mayor Young thanks Director Chow for his leadership of the City’s Department of Public Works and his dedicated service to the citizens of Baltimore.  He wishes him much success in his future endeavors. Mayor Young will launch a national search for the next Director for the Department of Public Works.