EMMANUEL M. WELSH

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EMMANUEL M. WELSH

Chief of Staff
Comptroller of Maryland

Since emigrating to the U.S. at age 11, Emmanuel M. Welsh has led a successful and iconic career in public service.

While studying at Towson University, Welsh interned in the Maryland House of Delegates, Maryland Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. He also served as both a graduate research fellow at the Schaefer Center for Public Policy and an intern in Baltimore City’s Bureau of Budget and Management while earning his master’s in public administration.

At just 29, Welsh was appointed to serve as chief of staff of Comptroller Peter Franchot’s communications team, after serving as speechwriter, adviser and deputy chief of staff.

“As a Filipino immigrant, non-native English speaker, it’s been quite a journey since I immigrated to the United States with my mother and brother in 2002,” Welsh said. “I would’ve never imagined that 18 years later, I would be in a high-ranking, consequential position in state government.”

As an immigrant at the helm of a state agency, Welsh hopes to use his experiences and perspective to foster stronger government operations and promote diversity, equity and inclusion. That stretches beyond attracting and retaining diverse staff, he says.

“We must ensure that they not only have a seat at the table, but a voice that is heard and valued, and that their organizations are empowering them to lead and make meaningful contributions,” Welsh said.

The key to success, Welsh says, is to listen and let others speak. And, as a self-pronounced “people-person,” the remote COVID-19 world has been a struggle. In his free time, Welsh serves on the board of the Towson University Alumni Association, Schaefer Center for Public Policy and Filipino-American Cancer Care Inc.