John Gallagher

Meet Managing Deputy Commissioner John Gallagher from the City of Chicago, Department of Water Management.

John’s story with the City of Chicago is a classic example of starting at the ground level and working your way all the way to the top through hard work, dedication, and continuous learning. He began his career with the City of Chicago back in 1995 when he joined the Department of Transportation as a Cement Mixer. Over those first four years, he learned the ins and outs of city infrastructure right from the ground up.

Four years later, John transitioned to the Department of Water Management (DWM) as a Sewer Laborer (and later a Construction Laborer). In this role, he was right on the front lines—installing, replacing, and repairing the vital water and sewer systems that keep the city running every day. His strong work ethic paid off in 2013 when he was promoted to **Foreman of Pipe Yards**, taking charge of the department's warehouses, materials, and supplies.

Recognizing the importance of keeping crews safe, John stepped into the Safety Division as a Safety Specialist where he helped build and expand DWM’s safety programs, inspecting job sites, evaluating risks, and conducting safety training for field crews.

His broad experience led to another well-deserved step up: General Superintendent, where he managed field operations across multiple DWM districts, including the underground engineering section.

With close to three decades of hands-on experience across nearly every layer of the department, John became Deputy Commissioner of Operations in 2024 where he leads DWM’s largest bureau—a team of more than 1,300 employees dedicated to maintaining and repairing Chicago’s entire water distribution system.

But that’s not all… .   Last August John was promoted to Managing Deputy of Distribution/Operations where he and his team currently oversee the DWM's three Repair and Maintenance Districts, In-House Sewer and Water Construction, Capital Improvement Projects, Lead Service Line Replacement, Restoration, Meter Services, Field Engineering Services and In-house Safety.