Governor Wes Moore announced the appointment of Manny Welsh as chief of staff on November 5, 2026. Welsh's appointment follows the announcement that Lester Davis was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation by the TEDCO Board of Directors. Welsh's new role takes effect immediately.
Press Release: Office of the Governor of Maryland
Published November 5, 2026. Reproduced in full from the Office of the Governor of Maryland.
Governor Moore Appoints Manny Welsh as Chief of Staff
ANNAPOLIS, MD: Governor Wes Moore today announced the appointment of Manny Welsh as chief of staff, following this morning’s announcement that Lester Davis, who has served as the Governor’s chief of staff since October 2025, was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) by the TEDCO Board of Directors. Welsh’s appointment takes effect immediately.
“When Lester joined my team as Chief of Staff, he inherited some of the longest standing, thorniest problems we needed to solve quickly. He implemented new processes and creative solutions to help deliver real results, and so much more. Lester has made State government work better for the people of Maryland, with integrity, discipline, and heart,” said Gov. Moore. “As we continue to build an economy that expands pathways to work, wages, and wealth, TEDCO could not have selected a more capable leader during this pivotal chapter in the organization’s history and Maryland’s economy. I’m grateful for everything Lester has given this administration, and I can’t wait to see what he builds next.”
Since October 2025, Welsh has served as Principal Deputy Chief of Staff and Maryland’s first Chief Administrative Officer, responsible for overseeing operations of the executive branch of Maryland state government and implementation of the Governor’s agenda. In that role, he worked closely with the Governor’s Cabinet and senior staff to ensure agencies operate efficiently, deliver quality public services, and advance gubernatorial priorities through interagency collaboration and successful execution.
Previously, Welsh served as a Deputy Chief of Staff, overseeing operations of 12 state agencies, and policy implementation related to economic development, sports and entertainment, procurement, real estate, social equity, and the regulation of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis industries. He also served as the Governor’s Board of Public Works Executive from 2023-2025, leading the Administration’s efforts to secure approval from the state’s financial oversight board for major procurement contracts, infrastructure projects, state grants, and real estate transactions.
“Manny has been an invaluable asset to this administration since day one. He defines what it means to be a public servant having served Marylanders for years in state government,” said Gov. Moore. “His encyclopedic knowledge on how to pull the levers of state bureaucracy to tackle complex problems and find innovative solutions is exactly what Maryland needs right now. I’ve relied on his sage advice for years, and I know he will help us deliver for the people of Maryland as we head into our second term.”
Before joining the Moore-Miller Administration, Welsh spent more than seven years in leadership roles for former Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, including service as Chief of Staff for over two years, during which he led the state's 1,100-person financial agency with a $131 million budget and 12 regional offices.
Born in the Philippines, Welsh’s family immigrated to the United States in 2003 when he was 11-years-old. Welsh holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Towson University and a master's degree in public administration from the University of Baltimore.
