Martin Adams

General Manager and Chief Engineer

L.A. Department of Water and Power

THE LATEST: Adams was unanimously confirmed by the City Council as general manager and chief engineer of the DWP in September 2019. He was nominated to the post by Mayor Eric Garcetti and had filled the role on an interim basis since July 2019. Under Adams, the DWP worked to spread the water melt from last year's higher-than-normal snowpack throughout its system. Out of concern for the Covid-19 pandemic, the DWP closed its walking trails around the Silver Lake Reservoir and other water sources.

BACKGROUND: A 35-year DWP veteran, Adams was most recently chief operating officer after serving as the agency's senior assistant general manager — water system. He has touched on almost every aspect of Los Angeles' water system, including planning, design and operations. A civil engineer by training, Adams is a native of Glendale and attended Loyola Marymount University. He serves as chairman of the board of the new San Fernando Community Health Center and recently completed nine years on the Water and Power Board for the city of Burbank.

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