Gayon Sampson Appointed Maryland Comptroller Chief of Staff

Comptroller Lierman Announces Gayon Sampson as Chief of Staff

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (April 20, 2026) -- Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman today announced the appointment of Gayon M. Sampson as Chief of Staff for the Office of the Comptroller of Maryland. He will begin the role on June 10, 2026. Sampson joins the Comptroller's Office after serving as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of the City of Frederick, where he played a central role in advancing the administration's priorities and delivering results for residents. An eighth-generation Frederick resident with more than a decade of experience across local, state, and institutional leadership, Sampson brings a strong track record in strategic planning, government relations, and organizational management. "Gayon is a thoughtful, results-driven leader who understands how to bring people together to get things done," said Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman. "His experience in local government and in the business sector, combined with his strong track record of improving operations and delivering results for residents, makes him the right person to help lead our agency forward. I'm excited to welcome him to the Comptroller's Office as we continue strengthening how we serve Marylanders and ensuring our work is accessible, effective, and responsive to the people we serve." As Chief of Staff in Frederick, Sampson helped lead major initiatives that strengthened the City's operations, expanded economic opportunity, and enhanced collaboration across all levels of government. He built the City's governmental relations function from

the ground up, helping secure nearly $100 million in federal, state, and local funding for infrastructure, housing, and community development projects. He also led Frederick's participation in the National League of Cities' Good Jobs, Great Cities initiative, positioning Frederick as a leader in workforce development and economic mobility, helping shape investments such as the City's planned youth center and connecting young people to career exposure and long-term opportunity. His work also included advancing re-entry initiatives that connect returning citizens to the workforce and supporting successful labor agreements, including with the Fraternal Order of Police. Known for his ability to build trust and bring stakeholders together, he fostered strong relationships across government, community organizations, and the public. Prior to his role as Chief of Staff, Sampson served as Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Frederick, where he helped develop the City's first 10-year strategic plan and supported major initiatives related to economic development, public safety, and community investment. Earlier in his career, he held roles with Johns Hopkins University and Medicine and the Greater Baltimore Committee, focusing on government relations, policy, and community engagement. "Public service is about doing the work and delivering for people, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do that alongside Comptroller Lierman and her team," said Gayon Sampson. "In this role, I will be committed to building strong relationships across the agency and across the state, and ensuring our work earns and maintains the public's trust," said Gayon Sampson. Sampson holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Towson University. "Gayon has been an invaluable resource to me, to this administration, and to the residents of the City of Frederick," said Frederick Mayor Michael O'Connor. "He has been a connector in the truest sense and is someone who understands how to bring people together, build trust, and move work forward in a way that delivers real results

for our residents. His professionalism, his attention to detail, and his ability to build and sustain relationships have been essential to getting big things done. Those same qualities will serve him well in his new role. The Office of the Comptroller is gaining someone who understands how government works at every level, and more importantly, how to make it work for people." Sampson will succeed Rianna Matthews-Brown, who will depart the agency at the end of April after serving as Chief of Staff since the start of Comptroller Lierman's administration. ### Media Contacts Renesha Alphonso ralphonso@marylandtaxes.gov 443-926-4790(cell) Adam Abadir aabadir@marylandtaxes.gov 667-408-0768 (cell) Comptroller of Maryland, 80 Calvert Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, United States