Montgomery County Council Confirms Gabe Albornoz’ Return as Department of Recreation Director

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

The Montgomery County Council has unanimously confirmed the appointment of Gabe Albornoz as the Director of the Department of Recreation. He returns to the director position after serving seven years on the County Council.

County Executive Marc Elrich emphasized that the Department of Recreation is a vital resource for the community, with its high utilization by residents and its focus on inclusive and diverse programming.

"Gabe Albornoz is stepping back into this role with a deep understanding of what recreation means for our residents," said County Executive Elrich. "He has led through difficult times, strengthened programs that reach every corner of this County, and never lost sight of the equity and access issues that shape how people use our facilities. Recreation is central to community well-being, and Gabe's record shows that he knows how to run this department. I appreciate his service on the Council and look forward to working with him as he returns to lead a team that plays an essential role in making Montgomery County a place where people love to live."

The public can expect the new director to focus heavily on programmatic accessibility, community well-being, and addressing critical operational needs, leveraging his strong leadership background and past success with the department.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to lead a Department for which I have so much respect and admiration," said Albornoz. "The Department of Recreation's programs, facilities, and services help improve our residents' quality of life, physical and mental health, and provide space for communities to come together. I look forward to working with the County Executive and the Department's talented team to help carry out programs that meet our diverse communities' needs and interests, especially for our most vulnerable populations."

In fiscal year 2026, the Recreation budget was $68 million, representing a $3.5 million increase over the previous year. The department has 191 full-time employees and more than 2,500 seasonal employees, making it one of the largest employers of summer jobs for youth in the County.

Data from CountyStat, part of the County's Office of Management and Budget, showed that Rec has had year-to-year increases in aquatics programs, services for older adults, youth engagement, and more program participation overall. More department performance measures can be found here. The latest Community Livability Report found that more than 80% of residents surveyed rated our parks and recreation opportunities good or excellent.

Albornoz has over two decades of experience in public service and policy leadership and is known for leading operations, building collaborative partnerships, and fostering cultures of kindness, inclusivity, and excellence.

Key Qualifications and Experience

• Previous Director Tenure: Albornoz previously served as the Director of the Department of Recreation from 2007 to 2018. He was the youngest person in County history to lead the department.
• Operational Management: During his previous tenure, he managed a budget of $58.7 million, a workforce of 3,200 employees, and oversaw 22 recreation facilities and programs that served over 311,000 residents annually.
• Fiscal Resilience: He successfully navigated the department through the Great Recession, managing a 34% budget reduction and a 29% staffing cut while earning 83 national and state awards for excellence.
• Council Service: He served as a County Councilmember At-Large from 2018 to 2025, where he chaired the Health and Human Services Committee. During this time, he led legislative efforts to establish the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Commission, guided the launch of the MoCo BOOST Guaranteed Income Program, and worked to achieve high vaccination rates in the Latino community during the COVID-19 pandemic through the creation of Por Nuestra Salud y Bienestar.

A lifelong County resident, Albornoz holds an MBA from The Johns Hopkins University and is bilingual in English and Spanish. He is a resident of Kensington.

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