In a shakeup within the Mayor's Office, Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced a series of leadership changes that are set to take effect starting December 1. Current Chief of Staff Calvin Young is moving on to become the interim Deputy Mayor for Community and Economic Development, while Deputy Chief of Staff John David "J.D." Merrill is stepping up as the new Chief of Staff. In a statement obtained by Baltimore City's official website, Mayor Scott expressed his confidence in utilizing the team's talent to address the city's evolving challenges and opportunities.
Calvin Young will be filling the interim position left vacant by the previous Deputy Mayor, Justin Williams, who now serves as the inaugural Director of Permitting and Development Services. Young comes from a background in business development with substantial experience working in private equity and banking. He's known for leading investments and financings that aggregate to over $145 million. Young stated, as detailed on Baltimore City's mayoral website, "This administration is well positioned to continue the historic progress we've made, despite federal uncertainty, and I look forward to contributing to that work in this new role."
John David "J.D." Merrill's promotion comes after a stint as interim Deputy Mayor of Equity, Health and Human Services, and his tenure as Deputy Chief of Staff. His roles have seen him spearheading efforts such as Baltimore's vaccination strategy and coordinating responses to citywide incidents. His focus is on meeting the immense challenges presenting themselves at the federal level, emphasizing the need for discipline and preparedness to deliver results.
Both Young and Merrill bring diverse experiences and track records of success to their new roles, which will be critical as Baltimore navigates the complex landscape of urban governance heading into 2026.
