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Jamel McMullin
So, you want to be a chief of staff? Join us for an off-the-record discussion with state government leaders who have served in this critical role to learn more about the challenges, successes, and opportunities to drive results that come with this high-intensity, high-impact position.
Fagan Harris serves as President and CEO of the Abell Foundation. Prior to joining Abell, Fagan served as Governor Wes Moore’s Chief of Staff from his historic inauguration in 2023 through 2025. As Chief of Staff, he managed the Governor’s Offices and oversaw the day-to-day operations of State government. He led the State through historic negotiations to retain the beloved Baltimore Orioles, managed the State’s response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, and guided the development and implementation of the State’s $67 billion budget.
He is the co-founder of Baltimore Corps, a national leader in social innovation, where he served as CEO for 10 years. Under his leadership, Baltimore Corps re-imagined recruiting, hiring, and career advancement for underestimated communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Baltimore Corps played a central role in the creation and execution of the Baltimore Health Corps, which enlisted hundreds of city residents most impacted by the pandemic in the city’s public health response as full-time contact tracers and care coordinators.
Brandon Tatum serves as Chief Executive Officer of the National Governors Association (NGA). In this role, he leads the nation’s only bipartisan organization representing all 55 U.S. governors, setting strategic direction for policy development, federal engagement, and interstate collaboration on the country’s most consequential challenges. Prior to NGA, Tatum served as Chief Executive Officer of Oklahoma’s Public Regional University System (RUSO) and as Senior Advisor to Governor J. Kevin Stitt for workforce and education.
Earlier, Tatum served as Chief of Staff to Governor J. Kevin Stitt, acting as the Governor’s top advisor and strategist. In this role, he was responsible for executing the Governor’s policy agenda, overseeing state agency operations, and managing a 31,000-employee executive branch.