Randy Conner, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Water Management

Randy Conner is the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson. No newcomer to the field, he is returning to the role after previously serving as the DWM Commissioner from 2017 to the end of 2020.

Commissioner Conner brings more than two decades of experience in urban engineering and infrastructure to the department. He formerly served as the First Deputy Commissioner at both the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation.

At the Department of Water Management, Commissioner Conner oversees a system that delivers high-quality drinking water to more than 42% of Illinois residents daily. This system includes over 4,300 miles of water mains, 4,450 miles of sewer mains, two of the world’s largest water treatment facilities, and over 2,100 employees. He manages an annual operating budget of approximately $1.4 billion and a capital budget of approximately 750 million dollars annually.

When he previously held the position, Commissioner Conner created a Division of Performance Management to elevate professionalism in the department; established mandatory EEO training for all employees to improve the department’s culture; and oversaw the implementation of the ambitious 10-year “Building a New Chicago" capital plan which represented a $6 billion investment in water infrastructure to support the city’s future growth.

In 2024, Commissioner Conner will spearhead DWM efforts to deliver a robust capital improvement program to replace water mains, and sewer mains and renovate critical DWM facilities. He will ensure that the department will continue to increase the number of lead service line replacements throughout the City. This work is critically important as the nation looks to Chicago- the city with the most lead service lines at 406,000- for best practices on how to effectively address this legacy infrastructure issue.

Commissioner Conner is committed to improving departmental accountability, fiscal management, timely delivery of public services, workforce diversity, and equitable contractor participation. He looks forward to continued dialogue and collaboration with our suburban communities, unions, local agencies and federal partners.

He is a licensed minister and has logged thousands of service hours with many community and civic service organizations. A recipient of the Man of Honor Award from the Chicago Defender, he attended Purdue University, where he studied Engineering and Construction Principles, and is certified in Emergency Action Planning by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A lifelong Chicago resident, he resides in the West Pullman neighborhood and is the father of one daughter.