• By Marcel Acosta
• May 22, 2025

NCPC Bids Farewell to Agency Directors

After decades of distinguished service, Julia Koster and Michael Sherman retired from NCPC.

Long Range Planning Division Director Michael Sherman retired after 29 years at the agency. He first interned with NCPC in 1991 and later joined the agency in 1997 as a geographic information systems (GIS) manager. Michael is best known for his 15 years as NCPC’s Policy and Research Division Director, where he led a team that worked on the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital, Federal Capital Improvements Program, commemoration projects, and many other special initiatives that sought to protect and enhance federal assets and cultural and natural resources in the nation’s capital. He was an instrumental part of the agency and worked on many high-profile catalytic projects including the design of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Height Master Plan, and Beyond Granite. Michael was also a Colonel in the United States Army Reserves.

NCPC also bids farewell to Flooding and Resiliency Project Director Julia Koster, who retired after 22 years. Before her current role, she served as the Office of Public Engagement Director from 2011 to 2024, where she oversaw the agency’s Centennial and led NCPC’s outreach efforts. She wore many hats at the agency, serving as Assistant to the Executive Director (2002-2004), Director of the Policy and Research Division (2005-2009), and Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Director (2009-2011). Julia oversaw the 2004 update to the Comprehensive Plan’s Federal Elements, the CapitalSpace Initiative, and NCPC’s work related to Federal Triangle flooding and the Potomac Park Levee. From 2016-2024, she was also the Secretary to the Commission. During her tenure, Julia had details at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Council of the District of Columbia, where she assisted with the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan’s District Elements.

NCPC thanks them both for their service and wishes them all the best in their new chapters.