# D'Andrea Walker

D'Andrea Walker is an American public administrator and government official who served as acting Baltimore County Executive from January 3, 2025, to January 7, 2025, and as the county administrative officer since 2024. She was director of the Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation from 2020 to 2024. Walker previously worked in the Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland Department of General Services, and Prince George's County government.

## Early life and education

D'Andrea Walker was raised in public housing in Houston, Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree and M.B.A. from Morgan State University.

## Career

Walker worked at the NAACP from 1996 to 1999, starting as an executive assistant for youth programs and later becoming an assistant to the acting coordinator of special projects. In 1999, an internal report commissioned by NAACP chairman Julian Bond cited allegations that she had received preferential treatment from NAACP president Kweisi Mfume. Walker left the NAACP in February 1999 and later joined governor Parris Glendening's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and as a junior member. She also worked for the Maryland Board of Public Works.
Walker subsequently worked for the Maryland Department of Transportation, including as manager for the Office of Statewide Quality Compliance. held leadership roles with the Maryland Transit Administration, the Maryland Department of General Services, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, and Prince George's County government.
In October 2020, Walker was appointed by county executive Johnny Olszewski as the acting director of the Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT). At that time, county regulations required the director to be a licensed professional engineer, which Walker was not. In November 2022, Baltimore County voters approved a charter amendment allowing individuals with at least ten years of supervisory experience in infrastructure planning and construction, or transportation engineering and management, to qualify for the position. Following this change, Walker was appointed as the permanent director of DPWT in February 2023. She was the first black woman to hold the role.
As director of DPWT, Walker oversaw a department with approximately 1,000 employees and managed a budget of $769 million. The department’s responsibilities included trash collection, water and sewer services, road maintenance, and ensuring equitable access to transportation infrastructure.
In April 2024, the Baltimore County Council approved Walker’s appointment as the county’s administrative officer, replacing Stacy Rodgers. This position placed her in charge of the day-to-day operations of county government. During the appointment process, she acknowledged the challenges posed by the county's fiscal situation, including warnings from county executive Olszewski that future budgets might require tax increases or significant spending cuts to address inflation and decades of underfunding.
On January 3, 2025, Walker became acting Baltimore County Executive following the resignation of Olszewski, who left the role to join the U.S. House of Representatives. She held the position temporarily until the Baltimore County Council selects an interim county executive, which it did on January 7, 2025.

## Personal life

Walker was in a relationship with politician Kweisi Mfume in the 1990s and early 2000s. He adopted her son in 1994.
As of 2023, Walker lives in Baltimore County, Maryland, where she raised her son.