Alan Karnofsky currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the District of Columbia Department of General Services (DGS), where he provides strategic leadership and oversight of key functions within the agency. He manages the Office of External Affairs, Office of Legislative Affairs, Human Resources, Information Technology, Risk Management, and Fleet and Logistics. In this role, Mr. Karnofsky plays a critical part in shaping the agency’s messaging, managing relationships with the DC Council and community stakeholders, overseeing special projects, and ensuring efficient operational support for the Department’s initiatives.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Karnofsky served as the Senior Deputy Director and Chief Strategy Officer at the District of Columbia Department of Employment Services (DOES). In this capacity, he led a team of 70 staff members and managed a $35M budget across multiple divisions, including the Office of Youth Programs, Office of Labor Market Research and Performance, and the Office of Training and Professional Development. He was instrumental in overseeing the Marion Barry Jr. Summer Youth Employment Program, which employed over 10,000 youth each summer, as well as managing a $62M allocation of American Rescue Plan funds for pandemic recovery initiatives. Mr. Karnofsky also played a key role in the development and implementation of the DOES strategic plan. Prior, Mr. Karnofsky was the Deputy Chief of Staff at DOES, where he managed the Office of Federal and Legislative Affairs, coordinated agency-wide events, and supported the Director in aligning strategic goals with effective program delivery.
Mr. Karnofsky has also held significant roles in the Office of the City Administrator and the Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia. In 2018, he spearheaded the implementation of the Kids Ride Free program, overseeing the distribution of transportation subsidy cards to more than 11,700 students prior to the start of the school year.
Through his various leadership positions, Mr. Karnofsky has built strong working relationships with the Mayor’s office, the DC Council, and local constituents. He is known for his ability to foster collaboration and streamline processes to enhance agency efficiency and service delivery.
A resident of Ward 7’s Marshall Heights neighborhood, Mr. Karnofsky holds a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in State and Local Management from American University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of his professional life, Mr. Karnofsky enjoys running, working out, and playing tennis.
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