Mayor Adams Announces New Appointments to Help Lead New York City Government

July 17, 2024

Chauncey Parker Appointed to Assistant Deputy Mayor for Public Safety 

Reggie Thomas Appointed Chief of Staff in Office of First Deputy Mayor, Frank Dwyer Appointed Chief of Staff in Office of Deputy Mayor for Communications, Katherine Maro Promoted to First Deputy Chief of Staff in Office of Chief of Staff 

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced several new appointments that will help lead critical teams within the Adams administration. Chauncey Parker has been appointed to serve as assistant deputy mayor for public safety; Reggie Thomas has been appointed to serve as chief of staff in the Office of the First Deputy Mayor; and Frank Dwyer has been appointed to serve as chief of staff in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Communications. Additionally, Katherine Maro has been promoted to first deputy chief of staff in the Office of the Chief of Staff.  

“Our administration works every day to keep New Yorkers safe, make our city more affordable, and create a more livable city. Chauncey, Reggie, Frank, and Katherine bring decades of experience across the public and private sector to city government and will help bolster those crucial efforts,” said Mayor Adams. “They are dedicated, driven leaders who know how to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for their fellow New Yorkers, and I look forward to working with all of them to build a safer, stronger city.” 

“I am excited to welcome Reggie Thomas back to City Hall as my chief of staff,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “With a distinguished career in service — both in and out of government — Reggie brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and dedication to our team. His commitment to his community and ability to ‘Get Stuff Done’ is an invaluable asset to the Adams administration and New York City at large.”  

“Chauncey Parker is a world-class law enforcement professional whose exemplary service and commitment to public safety have made New York City a safer place to live for nearly four decades,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “His leadership at the New York City Police Department has been instrumental, and I have full confidence that he will continue to uphold our commitment to safety and justice for all New Yorkers as he takes on this important role.” 

“Our city’s press and communications experts keep New Yorkers informed about emergency situations, the services our city government offers, and the day-to-day work our administration is doing to deliver for them every day,” said Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy. “With Frank helping to lead this team, we will be able to strengthen that work even further. From his background in journalism to his tenure in city government working on both crisis communications and long-term strategic planning, Frank is battle-tested, and we are excited to welcome both him and Reggie to City Hall. Congratulations as well to Katherine and Chauncey on these well-deserved promotions.” 

“The Adams administration is delivering results for New Yorkers every day, and so much of that progress is propelled by talented, tireless, and thoughtful public servants who know how to make this city run,” said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “Katherine Maro’s leadership abilities and rich government operations experience — bolstered by her time serving as an elementary school teacher — brings an invaluable perspective about what students, teachers, and parents need to thrive in our great city. Together, we will continue to build a brighter future for all who call New York City home for generations to come.” 

“Over the course of almost 40 years of public service, I have been dedicated to building public safety partnerships between law enforcement and the communities we serve,” said Assistant Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker. “I am so grateful to Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Banks for this once in a lifetime opportunity to help achieve their vision of building and strengthening public safety partnerships across New York City.” 

“I’m grateful to Mayor Adams and First Deputy Mayor Wright for the opportunity to return to public service in this crucial role,” said Reggie Thomas, chief of staff, Office of the First Deputy Mayor. “It is a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated team of public servants and continue to support the city that I love.”   

“Protecting public safety, rebuilding our city’s economy, and making this a more livable city for working-class New Yorkers are not only the cornerstones of the Adams administration, they are goals that everyone can agree are essential for our city to thrive,” said Frank Dwyer, chief of staff, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Communications. “As a lifelong New Yorker myself — who has been fortunate to serve alongside brave and bold civil servants at two public safety agencies — I’m thrilled to now join an incredible team of communications professionals at City Hall who work diligently every day to accomplish those critical missions.” 

“From teaching students in our classrooms to leading strategic initiatives at City Hall, I’ve had the extraordinary privilege of serving my fellow New Yorkers across our city government. With this new position, I look forward to building on that work and continuing to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for our city,” said Katherine Maro, first deputy chief of staff, Office of the Chief of Staff. “Thank you to Mayor Adams and Camille Joseph Varlack for this opportunity, and thank you to all my colleagues at New York City Public Schools and City Hall for your endless support.” 

About Chauncey Parker 

Chauncey Parker has dedicated his career to keeping New Yorkers safe at multiple levels of government. Most recently, Parker served as deputy commissioner for collaborative policing for the New York City Police Department, where he has fostered shared responsibility for public safety through productive partnerships with individuals, government agencies, and community-based organizations. 

Since 1995, Parker has also served as the executive director of the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program that invests in federal, state, and local partnerships to build safe and healthy communities. During this time, Parker has additionally served as an assistant United States attorney in the Southern District of New York and as director of criminal justice and commissioner of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.  

Parker is a graduate of Rollins College and Duke University School of Law.  

He will report to Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. 

About Reggie Thomas 

Reggie Thomas brings a wealth of experience from across both the public and private sector. Thomas previously served as senior vice president of government affairs at the Real Estate Board of New York. Previously, he was a principal at Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. Thomas also served in the de Blasio administration as first deputy director of City Legislative Affairs and in the Bloomberg administration as deputy director of City Legislative Affairs and senior policy advisor.   

Prior to joining the Mayor’s Office, Thomas was legislative and budget director for then-City Councilmember Leroy Comrie, staff director for the Queens City Council delegation, and an aide in the Manhattan Borough President’s Office.  

He is a graduate of Pace University. 

Thomas will report to First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. 

About Frank Dwyer 

Frank Dwyer is a veteran communications executive with more than 20 years of experience in media and government. Dwyer previously served as deputy commissioner for public information at the New York City Department of Correction (DOC), where he served as the agency’s chief spokesperson, supervised director-level managers, and oversaw rapid response. 

Before his time at DOC, Dwyer served as deputy commissioner for public information and external affairs at the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), helping lead the agency’s public safety agenda for over a decade, including through the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to his time at FDNY, Dwyer worked at NY1 News and WNBC-TV, where he won an Emmy for his coverage.  

He holds in a B.A. in Communications and English from Iona University. 

Dwyer will report to Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy. 

About Katherine Maro 

Katherine Maro has deep experience across both administration and education, having previously served as a deputy chief of staff for Mayor Adams. Before working at City Hall, she served as chief of staff for operations at New York City Public Schools, where she worked on a variety of matters, including the Summer Rising program and opening for the first day of schools. 

While at New York City Public Schools, Maro also served as chief of staff to the chief academic officer, chief of staff for the Division of Specialized Instruction and Student Support, and deputy director for the Litigation Implementation Unit. She began her career in the classroom as a teacher at Achievement First Crown Heights Elementary School and as the director of special projects at Uncommon Schools Brownsville Collegiate Charter School.  

Maro holds a B.S. in Social Studies Education from New York University and a M.A. in Education and Politics from the Columbia University Teachers College. 

Maro reports to Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack.