Seattle – Today, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced new promotions to and within his Cabinet. Effective February 4th, Adiam Emery will serve as the next interim director of the Seattle Department of Transportation following the departure of Director Greg Spotts, and Jessyn Farrell is promoted to deputy mayor.
“Over the last three years working in our office – and nearly 30 years at SDOT from intern to division director – Adiam Emery has proved to be one of the Seattle's most effective advocates for transportation safety,” said Mayor Harrell. “As one of the lead architects of our voter-approved Keep Seattle Moving transportation levy, there's no one I trust more than Adiam to lead its implementation and champion programs and projects to create safety and solutions for all transportation users – no matter how they get around. I want to thank Director Spotts for his service, positive energy, and strategic vision, and wish him all the best as he seeks to be closer to family."
Mayor Harrell added, "We are also extremely enthusiastic to welcome Jessyn Farrell to our office as deputy mayor. Jessyn has been at the forefront of our administration in advancing meaningful climate action with tangible benefits for our residents – more trees, cleaner buildings, and a healthier and more sustainable food system. Jessyn will bring big-picture-thinking, a comprehensive approach, and the know-how to get things done for Seattle residents, drawing on years of public service, transportation expertise, and climate leadership."
The full inventory of Cabinet staff transitions include:
Deputy Mayor Adiam Emery will become the interim Director of the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), effective February 4
Office of Sustainability and Environment Director Jessyn Farrell will become Deputy Mayor, overseeing a portfolio that includes transportation, parks, and climate action, effective February 4
Director of Public Safety Natalie Walton-Anderson will become Chief Public Safety Officer, a member of the mayor’s Executive Team and the portfolio manager overseeing the Seattle Police Department, Community Assisted Response and Engagement Department, and the Office of Emergency Management, effective immediately
Angela Brady will become the mayor’s Sound Transit Designated Representative, while maintaining her position as the Director of the Office of the Waterfront, effective immediately
Kiersten Grove will be nominated later this month for confirmation as the permanent Director of Finance and Administrative Services
Office of Sustainability and Environment Deputy Director Michelle Caulfield will become acting Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment, effective February 4, while a national search is launched for the department’s next director
“Our administration is guided by a One Seattle approach as a learning, growing organization, committed to continuous improvement for our city. I want to thank Natalie, Angela, Kiersten, and Michelle for their willingness to further advance our efforts to build a safe, welcoming, thriving Seattle. These leaders are well deserving of this expanded responsibility and will allow us to do even more in our efforts to serve Seattle residents,” said Mayor Harrell.
“I am honored to step into this role as a Deputy Mayor and support Mayor Harrell’s ambitious goals for a healthier, safer, and more climate resilient Seattle,” said Deputy Mayor Farrell. “In my three years as Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment, we as One Seattle tackled the climate crisis head-on through collaboration between government, communities, and businesses. We secured and invested millions of dollars into environmental justice and workforce development, significantly reduced pollution from buildings, and made residents more comfortable with increased access to heating, cooling, clean air, and healthy foods. There is much more to do, and I look forward to working closely with Mayor Harrell and City staff to accelerate our progress toward a more sustainable Seattle.”
“I first started working for the City as an intern after graduating from UW, and after decades of different roles with the Department of Transportation I am overjoyed to be returning as Interim Director,” said Adiam Emery, Interim Director for the Seattle Department of Transportation. “SDOT has been a second home for me, and I would not be where I am today without the opportunities it provided or the outstanding individuals there who have been colleagues, friends, and mentors to me over the years. I am fully invested in our commitment to safety, equity, and sustainability in transportation and am excited by the opportunity to amplify the outstanding work people in this department do every day. I look forward to delivering projects as part of our voter-approved transportation levy, better connections to make it easier and safer for people to get around, and improved programs to better serve Seattle’s diverse communities.”
“Seattle faces some real challenges as we work to improve public safety but as someone who has been spent my career doing this work and as the mother of three boys still in school, I have never been more hopeful,” said Chief Public Safety Officer Natalie Walton-Anderson. “Under Mayor Harrell we have made significant strides in addressing crime, investing in neighborhood improvements, and better supporting our first responders. I am honored and humbled to step into this new role as Chief Public Safety Officer and look forward to continuing to work closely with our public safety departments. This work is not easy, simple, or straightforward, but it is essential to making Seattle a safe place for everyone to call home and I am wholeheartedly committed to this work, this administration, and this community.”
"As Sound Transit moves forward with designing and constructing new investments in Seattle’s communities and downtown core, the City’s ability to provide nimble and streamlined leadership will be critical,” said Angela Brady, Sound Transit Designated Representative. “I am excited to step into the Sound Transit Designated Representative role, where I will work on behalf of the City to advise on key policies, foster partnerships and strategies, offer technical expertise to support project delivery, and lead interdepartmental coordination for planning, permitting, design, and review of Sound Transit projects, as well as City-delivered projects that support Sound Transit’s program."
"From Customer Service Centers to the Seattle Animal Shelter to fleets and facilities to creating pathways for women- and minority-owned businesses to work with the City of Seattle, FAS provide services that make a positive difference to Seattle residents,” said Kiersten Grove, Acting Director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services. “I am truly honored to be nominated to lead the Department of Finance and Administrative Services and look forward to continuing to work alongside Mayor Harrell and City and community partners to keep Seattle moving forward.”
"Under Jessyn’s leadership, OSE has met the moment of the climate crisis head-on,” said Michelle Caulfield, Acting Director of the Office of Sustainability and Environment. “Her passion, leadership, and effective collaboration led to the passage of nation-leading legislation like the Building Emissions Performance Standard, which will reduce building emissions by 27% by 2050. Her strategy, relationships, and communications skills will make her an exceptional deputy mayor. In the interim, I am honored to serve the mayor to continue the Office of Sustainability & Environment’s momentum as we work to build a healthier, safer, and more sustainable Seattle."
Jessyn Farrell, J.D., is a leader in building public consensus on difficult issues related to the environment, housing, transportation, and the economy. A long-time environmental advocate, Jessyn served as a state legislator from the 46th District where she passed ground-breaking legislation on oil-by-rail safety, paid family leave, affordable housing near transit centers, education supports for low-income and homeless youth, protections for pregnant workers and restrictions to cell-phone use while driving. As Executive Director of Transportation Choices she led advocacy efforts resulting in billions of dollars in regional light rail investments. Jessyn most recently served as the Director of Office of Sustainability and Environment for the City of Seattle where she led the city’s work to advance climate and environmental justice, reduce carbon pollution and build healthy, resilient communities. She has three kids, a dog, two cats, and is working on her first book.
Adiam Emery is a dedicated public servant with over 30 years of experience working for the City of Seattle. Since January 2022, Emery has served on Mayor Harrell’s Executive Team, most recently as deputy mayor. Throughout her tenure in the Mayor’s Office, Emery has led several transformative initiatives, including advancing transportation safety, securing the passage of the $1.55 billion transportation levy, adapting the six-year Park District Budget, restoring Seattle parks, relaunching the Park Rangers program, and advancing the One Seattle Climate Action Plan. She has also championed major investments in youth mental health and mentorship while strengthening support for Seattle’s immigrant communities.
Originally from Ethiopia, Emery came to the United States as part of the African Diaspora to pursue an education. After earning a Bachelor of Applied Science from the University of Washington, she began her career with the City as an engineering intern. Over the years, she has risen through the ranks at SDOT, serving as a transportation engineer, manager of the Transportation Operations Center, and division director for Transportation Operations.
Natalie Walton-Anderson is an experienced public safety leader who brings nearly 30 years of experience addressing complex safety issues to her new role as Chief Public Safety Officer and a member of the mayor’s Executive Team. She joined the Mayor’s Office in June 2024 as Director of Public Safety where she has led efforts including police recruitment and chief search, the expansion of the CARE responder team, the Downtown Activation Team pilot, and more.
Walton-Anderson previously served as a former Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington Criminal Division, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Criminal Division, and Criminal Division Chief for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, she is a champion for keeping people safe, including supporting survivors and victims of crimes such as domestic violence and sexual assault, holding offenders accountable, and designing and implementing diversion strategies. Walton-Anderson has a Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington.
Angela Brady is the Director of the City’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects, leading the charge in creating 20 acres of new parks and public spaces, as well as extensive multi-modal transportation and utility improvements on the waterfront and along key east/west connections into downtown as part of the City’s $1.2B Central Waterfront Program. With over 30 years of experience leading large multi-disciplinary teams in the fields of civil, transportation, utility, and structural engineering, Angela has successfully managed a variety of complex engineering projects from “cradle to grave.” Prior to her work on Seattle’s Waterfront, she led the Mercer Corridor Program, a $260M capital improvement program which completely transformed more than 30 city blocks in South Lake Union from a low-density industrial zone to a high-density mix of residential, commercial and business use. She has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Washington, is a licensed Professional Engineer in Washington State, and is also a licensed Project Management Professional with the Project Management Institute.
Kiersten Grove serves as the Acting Director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) for the City of Seattle, where she leads a 500-plus person team in providing customer-focused services that help support City operations and Seattle residents. Kiersten enjoys her work with FAS highlighting the often-unseen areas of government that have the greatest day-to-day impacts. Kiersten grew up in Washington, spent time in public service in Chicago, and returned to Seattle 13 years ago, serving the City of Seattle in several departments across the City. When she’s not at work, you can find Kiersten and her partner cheering on their 7-year son in his many sporting activities.
Michelle Caulfield has served as Deputy Director for Seattle’s Office of Sustainability & Environment since 2016. She is passionate about working at the intersection of government and community and brings more than a decade of public sector management and leadership to advance climate action, urban greening, healthy and local food, and environmental justice. In her role as deputy, Michelle contributes to officewide success through the strategic integration of policy, planning, and communications. Michelle represents Seattle on several regional, national, and international networks and serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Prior to the City of Seattle, Michelle worked as an environmental consultant, providing policy, planning, program design, implementation, and evaluation services in the areas of resource conservation, waste, sustainability, climate, and clean energy to a wide range of public and private sector clients. She holds a Bachelor of Science in History and Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
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