Gary A. Brown

Mr. Brown was appointed the Director of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) in October 2015 by Mayor Mike Duggan. Under his leadership, DWSD has been transformed to a customer-centric, fiscally responsible organization that is amidst a capital improvement program to upgrade Detroit’s local water and sewer systems, with 425 miles of water main and 11,718 lead service lines replaced, 85 miles of sewer lined or replaced, and 19 stormwater projects installed since 2018. Even before the COVID-19 Pandemic, Mr. Brown began shifting the department from an in-person customer service model to an efficient, responsive and technologically driven, cashless operation. Further, he has spearheaded water affordability efforts, launching the DWSD Lifeline Plan to provide a fixed bill amount for low-income residents at 1.8% of their income which uses regional, state and federal funds. Mr. Brown serves on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Local Government Advisory Council and has co-chaired committees since his appointment in August 2021. Previously, he was the City of Detroit’s Group Executive for Operations and Chief Operating Officer under Duggan, charged with ensuring continued improvement of city services. Mr. Brown has served the City of Detroit in several leadership roles over the past four decades.