Derek A. Gabriel Photo Credit: GOV'T HOUSE/FACEBOOK
Derek A. Gabriel has been nominated as the next commissioner for the Dept. of Public Works, announced Governor Albert Bryan during the administration's Covid-19 weekly press briefing Monday.
Mr. Bryan hailed Mr. Gabriel as a “young and talented Virgin Islander," and told senators he looks forward to their approval so that the territory can “continue our progress.”
Mr. Gabriel currently leads business development for APTIM and has worked as the deputy commissioner of the Department of Property and Procurement. He was also program assistant and community relations manager for the Emergency Repairs Home Program.
In the past, the Dept. of Public Works has relied on engineers to lead the department. “This a concerted effort to have a project manager with procurement experience to bring our projects forward," said the governor in explaining why an engineer was not chosen this time. "Before, we had engineers that were focused on designing projects and the specifics." However, "we have an engineering department at Public Works; what we need now is to get these projects through procurement, get them going, get the contracts approved and get the work done.”
Mr. Bryan thanked Mr. Gabriel “for accepting this call to service." He also thanked Dennis Brown, the acting Public Works commissioner, for his continued leadership.
“I want to thank you for trusting me and giving me the confidence to lead," said Mr. Gabriel in brief remarks, speaking to the governor. "I’m really excited [and] looking forward to work with the great people at the department and serving the great people of the territory.”
The last Public Works commissioner, Nelson Petty, who held the position beginning with the Mapp administration in August 2017, left the department in December.
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