(Washington, DC) Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has appointed Sam A. Gawad to the position of Interim Director of the Office on Aging. He is a 19-year veteran of the agency. 
 
Mr. Gawad will be responsible for the overall development and performance of the system of health, education, employment and social services for the District of Columbia's residents who are 60 years of age and older.  Annually the agency and its Senior Service Network provide service to more than 59 percent of the District’s senior citizens and serve more than 1.1 million nutritious meals to the elderly in homebound and group settings.

“I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to continue my service to the seniors of the District of Columbia in this capacity,” said Gawad.

As the Deputy Director, he managed the agency’s nearly $21.9 million budget.  Funds were awarded through contracts and grants to the office’s Senior Service Network to provide services to the elderly without exceeding the approved budget ceiling. Less than 11 percent of the budget was spent on administrative costs.

During his tenure, Mr. Gawad will seek the input of the community on the direction of the office for the future. This will help the agency better serve DC residents 60 years of age and older, whose numbers are increasing steadily as baby boomers reach servicing age.

Prior to coming to the agency, Gawad managed the Internal Audit Division of the DC Office of Tax and Revenue where he was responsible for the annual year-end audit for the agency.

A resident of Ward 3, Mr. Gawad is married with three children.