For Immediate Release: Monday, October 20, 2025
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich today announced his decision to nominate Gabe Albornoz to serve as Director of the Department of Recreation. If the Montgomery County Council votes to confirm Albornoz, he will succeed Robin Riley, who retired earlier this year.
The Montgomery County Code Section 1A-102 governs County Executive appointments for all department heads in the Executive Branch. Once the County Executive officially sends over his nomination to the Council, the Council has 60 days to vote on the nomination.
Albornoz, a lifelong Montgomery County resident, currently serves as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council. He previously served as the County’s Recreation Director from 2007 to 2018, making him the youngest department head in Montgomery County history at the time of his appointment.
“Gabe brings experience, leadership, and dedication to the Department of Recreation,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Our Department of Recreation is one of the highest-rated and most utilized departments in the County government by County residents. As the former Director for over a decade, Gabe helped build, expand, and diversify our Recreation programs. We look forward to working with the County Council during his nomination process and, upon their confirmation, his return as Director of the Department of Recreation.”
“I am humbled and honored to be selected by County Executive Elrich to lead a department for which I have such great respect and admiration,” said Councilmember Gabe Albornoz. “I am committed to continuing the work of the Department of Recreation to provide critical programming and support to all County residents that promotes their mental health and well-being. I look forward to working with the talented and dedicated Recreation staff and continuing to serve our community.”
During his first tenure as Recreation Director, he led the department through one of the most challenging fiscal periods in County history, navigating a 34 percent budget reduction and 29 percent staffing cut during the Great Recession, while still earning 83 national and state awards for excellence, including recognition for the Excel Beyond the Bell after-school initiative and Age-Friendly Montgomery programming. Albornoz also oversaw 11 capital projects totaling more than $280 million, including the construction of five new community recreation centers and the renovation of six others. He helped to develop Vision 2030, a nationally recognized strategic plan that continues to guide the department’s capital, programming, and operational priorities.
Elected to the County Council in 2018, Albornoz has represented more than one million residents as an at-large member. He served as Council President in 2021 and chaired the Health and Human Services Committee, overseeing policy and budget issues related to public health, social services, and the well-being of children, seniors, and vulnerable residents. He also served on the Education and Culture Committee and the Public Safety Committee.
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Prior to his County government service, Albornoz held leadership roles at the Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers and Children’s National Medical Center, where he developed regional youth programs, secured federal workforce grants, and led public health campaigns benefiting tens of thousands of families.
A graduate of Walt Whitman High School, Albornoz earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Maryland and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. He is also a graduate of the Presidential Leadership Scholars program, Leadership Montgomery, and the Rawlings Fellowship. Albornoz has received numerous honors throughout his career, including the Legislator of the Year Award from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award from the National Football League, and the Phyllis Campbell Newsome Public Policy Leadership Award from the Center for Nonprofit Advancement.
Albornoz lives in Kensington with his wife Catherine and their four children.
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