T. Eloise Foster Elected New WSSC Water Commission Chair for Fiscal Year 2025

Laurel, Md. – June 18, 2024 – T. Eloise Foster was unanimously elected WSSC Water Commission Chair at today’s monthly Commission Meeting. Foster has represented Montgomery County as a Commissioner since June 2016. Foster previously served as Chair for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 and three terms as Vice Chair. She has more than thirty years of experience in the public sector, where she developed expertise in fiscal policy and management. She was appointed Secretary of Budget and Management in 2000 and became the first African-American woman in the nation to hold this statewide office. She returned to this role under then-Governor Martin O’Malley, serving from 2007 to 2015.

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“As Chair, I pledge to work with my fellow Commissioners, our General Manager and a strong leadership team to ensure we remain on the path set forth … a trajectory to achieve continued success,” said Foster. “We must continue to be forward focused to ensure we are ready for the many challenges that lie ahead. From building a strong workforce to securing additional state and federal funding to meet regulatory challenges and always delivering the essential to our 1.9 million customers, I am honored and proud to continue supporting Team H2O.”

The Commissioners also unanimously voted Mark J. Smith as Vice Chair. Smith, a resident of Upper Marlboro, is the Executive Director for Community Engagement and Partnerships at the American Red Cross. He was appointed Commissioner in October 2022.

Six Commissioners govern WSSC Water, which has an annual $1.8 billion operating and capital budget. Three Commissioners are Montgomery County residents, and three are Prince George's County residents. Appointed by their respective county executives to four-year terms, the Commissioners are confirmed by their county councils.