Martin L. Adams has just completed 5 years as the General Manager and Chief Engineer of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the nation's largest municipally-owned water and power utility. Beginning his LADWP career in 1984, Mr. Adams served as both the Senior Assistant General Manager of Water and as Chief Operating Officer overseeing the Water and Power systems before taking the helm at LADWP in July 2019. Mr. Adams brings a wealth of practical, hands-on experience spanning 40 years, centering on a unique combination of creative planning and problem solving combined with years of direct operational experience.

Mr. Adams oversees a $9+ billion annual budget and a workforce of more than 11,000 employees.  He spearheaded the infrastructure investments needed to meet the agency's ambitious transition to a carbon-free energy future along with its commitment to dramatic increases in local water resources. He lead the planning and implementation of sweeping changes to the City’s water storage, conveyance, and treatment facilities to meet evolving water quality regulations and post-911 security concerns. Mr. Adams’ vision to clean up the San Fernando Valley groundwater basin is nearly complete through the construction of several major projects, and he has been a driving force behind the City’s investment in green hydrogen as a critical part of the City’s power future.

A native of the greater Los Angeles area, Mr. Adams resides in Burbank, California with his family, where he previously served for nine years on that city's Water and Power board. He continues to serve on a number of industry-related and community boards, and was recently appointed by President Biden to the National Infrastructure Advisory Council.  Mr. Adams earned his degree in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.