Join Us in Welcoming New Members to the County Government Team

Prince George's County Maryland sent this bulletin at 05/16/2023 10:00 AM EDT
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Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Join Us in Welcoming New Members to the
County Government Team

Dear Prince Georgians,

We have been extremely busy this year working to ensure that our County continues to grow and thrive. That includes providing a high-quality government that works efficiently and effectively to serve our residents. In March, we announced the hiring of several new individuals to serve our County Government in various capacities. Today, we are excited to welcome three additional team members to Prince George’s County Government that will serve in critical leadership roles.

Each of these individuals possess a great deal of knowledge and expertise in their respective fields and we are proud to have them working with us. We encourage you to take a moment to read more about each of them and their roles within the County Government and join us in welcoming them to team Prince George’s.

Yours in service, 

Angela Alsobrooks
Prince George’s County Executive

Jim Chandler
Assistant Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development

J. Chandler

Mr. Jim Chandler is the County’s new Assistant Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Economic Development. Mr. Chandler joins the County with more than 15 years of experience in development financing, community planning, as well as project and program management.

Mr. Chandler previously served as the Assistant City Administrator and Director of Community and Economic Development for the City of Hyattsville. In this role, Mr. Chandler led the City’s revitalization and economic development initiatives, including the rebranding of Hyattsville Crossing, establishment of its commercial façade improvement and corridor investment programs, and adaptive reuse of the city-owned facility that now serves as home to Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center.

Prior to his work with the City of Hyattsville, he served as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Coordinator and Supervisor of Program Development for the Office of Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs within the Nassau County Economic Development Department.

Mr. Chandler is an International Economic Development Council Certified Economic Development Professional (CEcD) and has served as a member of the Maryland Economic Development Association (MEDA), International City Managers Association, the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area (ATHA), Metro Washington Council of Governments’ Region Forward Coalition, and the Urban Land Institute, Prince George’s County Local Product Council.

Mr. Chandler holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and a Master of Arts in Public Policy from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, New York. He is also a Fellow at the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Mr. Chandler began his new role on May 8, 2023.

Manuel E. Castillo
Chief Information Security Officer, Office of Information Technology

M. Castillo

Mr. Manuel E. Castillo has been selected as the new Chief Information Security Officer for the Office of Information Technology. He will join the County with 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, information technology, digital forensics, and investigations.

Mr. Castillo currently serves as the Executive Director of Cybersecurity for Estee Lauder Companies, where he is responsible for the design and implementation of the company’s cybersecurity strategy as well as roadmaps and services that support cyber defense. He is also responsible for the company’s information security policies, implementing best practices and activities that enhance cyber threat management and mitigate risk.

Prior to his work at Estee Lauder Companies, Mr. Castillo served as the Senior Director of the Information Technology Branch for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from 2018 to 2020. He served in various other capacities with the FBI from 2003 to 2010, including Senior Manager of the Cyber Division. In addition, he worked at the National Security Agency (NSA) from 2012 to 2018, serving as the Senior Manager of Critical Infrastructure Systems, Director of Software Engineering, and Director of Cybersecurity Operations.

Mr. Castillo holds a Bachelor of Science from Franklin Pierce University in Concord, New Hampshire, and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from the University of Maryland, College Park. He also holds a Master of Science in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Castillo will begin his new role with the County in July 2023.

Eugene J. Powell
Deputy Chief Information Officer, Office of Information Technology

E. Powell

Mr. Eugene J. Powell has been selected as the new Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Office of Information Technology. He will join the County after serving over 19 years in the United States Air Force and possesses extensive experience in cyberspace defense and offensive operations.

Mr. Powell served in the United States Air Force as a Cyber Warfare Operator from 2003 to 2023. He has worked in various capacities during that time, including the Flight Chief for Cyber Operations Training in the 92d Cyberspace Operations Squadron, Fires Planner for the 400 Combat Mission Team, and Operations Superintendent for the Joint Force Headquarters (Air Force) Cyber Tactical Operations Center (C-TOC).

The C-TOC is a 2500-member cyber organization, where Mr. Powell was responsible for designing national level planning framework, managing all defensive and offensive cyberspace operations, capabilities, and access functions, and overseeing daily management of project and mission profiles. Mr. Powell also served as the Squadron Senior Enlisted Leader for the 315th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, and most recently the Senior Enlisted Leader at J38 USCYBERCOM at Fort Meade. He retired from the United States Air Force in March 2023.

Mr. Powell currently serves as a part time Cybersecurity Instructor at Fullstack Academy in New York, New York. In this role, he delivers dynamic learning experiences and instruction related to cybersecurity roles, focusing on Threat, Cybersecurity, and Security Operations Center Analysts. In addition, he serves as a part time Cybersecurity Evaluator for Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah, providing subject-matter expertise for cybersecurity courses specializing in Cyber Law, Ethics and Standards, and Digital Forensics.

Mr. Powell holds an Associate of Applied Science in Information Management and Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity from the Community College of The Air Force at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Management from Trident University International in Cypress, California, and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, Mr. Powell has earned numerous certifications, including a Professional Managers Certification from the United States Air Force. He is also recognized as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and a Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI).

Mr. Powell will begin his new role with the County on June 5, 2023.