Mayor Jorge Elorza today announced he is appointing former army Colonel Michael Borg to serve as Director of the Department of Public Works.
“Michael has spent his career leading complex operations when timely success is critical,” said Mayor Elorza. “I know that the experience he brings from the armed forces, combined with the intricate knowledge of Providence that he developed while leading PEMA, make him the ideal candidate to make sure our Department of Public Works delivers for neighborhoods throughout the city.”
Borg currently serves as Director of the Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), where he oversees the coordination and integration of all activities necessary to build, sustain and improve the capability to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism or other man-made disasters. He has held that position since January 2015.
Prior to joining the city, Borg served as a senior advisor to the United States Naval War College in Newport, R.I., and principal advisor to the college president. His previous experience includes serving as an instructor for the Joint Military Operations Department and command of the coalition and joint Regional Support Command for NATO training operations in Afghanistan. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State College in Colorado, and master’s degrees from American Military University and the U.S. Naval War College.
As DPW Director, Borg will oversee the construction, reconstruction and maintenance of highways and bridges; snow removal; sidewalks and curbing; street cleaning; refuse collection and disposal, including operation and maintenance of incinerators and dumps; and street lighting within the City of Providence. Borg succeeds former DPW Director Russell Knight who accepted a teaching position with Coventry High School last month.
Deputy PEMA Director Vladimir Ibarra will serve as Acting Director of the agency. Borg’s appointment will be sent to the City Council review.