D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed several new cabinet appointments on Thursday, and announced a new position in the District: Director of Gun Violence Prevention.

Linda Harllee Harper, the current Senior Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, will assume the new role, which will lead implementation of the city’s violence interruption efforts. Currently, violence interruption efforts reside in two different offices: The Offices of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, and the Office of the Attorney General’s Cure the Streets Program. Their goal is to take a public health approach to gun violence by offering resources and support to young people who are involved in violence or at risk of becoming involved.

Harper has helped lead extensive reforms to D.C.’s juvenile justice system over her career in the District. She was involved in DYRS’s transition from the troubled Oak Hill facility to the New Beginnings Youth Center. She helped to lead the agency’s efforts to contract with local community-based providers who offered alternatives to youth detention. And she serves on the District Task Force on Jails & Justice, a multi-year effort to examine the city’s criminal justice system and recommend potential policy changes.

“Linda is a visionary leader in social and criminal justice,” said Bowser. “[She] certainly has a heart for our communities and those impacted by violence, as evidenced by her long career helping young people.”

Clayton Rosenberg, the chief of staff for the Alliance of Concerned Men, said he hopes the city can “really invest” in the new Gun Violence Prevention Director position and provide Harper with the proper resources and power to be effective.

“There are lives on the line,” said Rosenberg. “The city is watching … we really hope that this can create the change that we seek.”

Like many other cities across the country, D.C. has seen a recent spike in homicides: There were more homicides in 2020 than there had been in 15 years.

Rosenberg, who helps lead violence interruption efforts in Wards 7 and 8 through a collaboration between the Alliance of Concerned Men and the Office of the Attorney General’s Cure the Streets Program, said he was also looking to see how Harper would help “bridge the gap” between the various entities working on violence interruption in the District.

Bowser also confirmed that Kevin Donahue, who has been serving as interim city administrator since Rashad Young’s departure from the position last year, will officially assume the City Administrator role. Donahue previous served as the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice.

Roger Mitchell, who has been serving in two D.C. government roles—interim Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice and Chief Medical Examiner—will leave D.C. government for a new position as a professor and Chair of Pathology at Howard University.

“This is an opportunity for me to move into the academic side of medicine and to pour into the … medical students that will be coming through those doors,” said Mitchell. He said the move will also allow him to focus more on his ministry; He is currently a licensed minister at New Bethel Baptist Church in Shaw.

Chris Geldart, who currently leads D.C.’s Department of Public Works, will assume the role of acting Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice, and Dr. Francisco Diaz, who is currently the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, will become the acting Chief Medical Officer. Christine Davis, DPW’s General Counsel, will serve as interim director of DPW in Geldart’s place.

Bowser also announced her appointment of Emile Thompson as the next commissioner for the Public Service Commission. Thompson is a member of the DC Water Board and formerly served in the office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice.

Lamont Akins will also depart his position as Director of the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs.

“Lamont is actually probably, outside of my family. one of the first people to support me in public life, so I want to thank Lamont for his tenure,” said Bowser. 

This story has been updated to add comments from Clayton Rosenberg of the Alliance of Concerned Men and adjust the description of Harper’s new role.