Mayor Joshua J. Cohen announces that he has nominated David A. Jarrell, a senior executive for the City of San Diego’s Public Works Group who previously spent 16 years in the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps, to serve as the City of Annapolis’ next Public Works director.
Over the course of 28 years in the public and private sectors, Mr. Jarrell has managed hundreds of millions of dollars in public works projects and programs. He has overseen large-scale refuse and recycling programs, street maintenance and traffic management operations, energy-conservation programs and storm water management initiatives. In addition, he has directed the construction of water and sewer treatment plants; roads; sidewalks; sewer, water and natural gas lines; and multi-use public buildings.
For the past four years, Mr. Jarrell has served as deputy chief operating officer for Public Works in San Diego, the country’s eighth-largest city, overseeing the work of nearly 2,000 full-time employees and an annual budget of more than $450 million. He also implemented the City’s annual half-billion-dollar capital improvements program. During his tenure there, he guided the construction of a $180 million central library and the planning for a new city hall as part of the redevelopment of the city’s civic center.
Throughout his career, Mr. Jarrell has harnessed his engineering and business acumen to improve performance and customer service while reducing costs. In San Diego, he managed the business improvement of five Public Works departments, creating efficiencies that produced $30 million in annual savings.
His accomplishments with the Navy and private sector employers include:
• Overseeing the design and construction of security improvements for Capitol Hill
• Budgeting, designing and constructing $630 million of projects associated with the relocation of aviation units from closing Naval air stations
• Managing the operations of more than 700 Seabees while with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133
“Annapolis must set aside millions of dollars in the years ahead to modernize our infrastructure, such as our brick-paved roads, sidewalks, sewer lines and water plant,” Mayor Cohen said. “Mr. Jarrell has the pro-bowl experience and leadership ability we need to quarterback this effort in an effective, efficient and transparent way.”
Mr. Jarrell’s confirmation hearing before the City Council is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 11. If confirmed, Mr. Jarrell would begin the job on Monday, Dec. 6.
Mr. Jarrell holds a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Ohio State University and a master of science degree in civil engineering from Purdue University. He is registered as a professional civil engineer in Maryland, California, Pennsylvania and Virginia. His wife, Anna, grew up in College Park.
