Derrick Coley

Coley was born in 1975^[1][2] to Francesca Brooks and Michael Brooks.^[3] He graduated from Suitland High School, afterwards attending North Carolina State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences in 1998, and American University, where he earned a Master of Arts degree in public policy in 2003.^[1][4]

Coley previously worked as a staff associate at the United States Conference of Mayors, where he managed the organization's annual "Recycling America's Land: A National Report on Brownfield Redevelopment" report and collaborated with the federal government to promote sustainable development in American cities.^[4] He later worked as an assistant to Michael Herman, the chief of staff of Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, until 2004,^[4] afterwards serving as a deputy chief of staff to Johnson from 2004 to 2009 and as Johnson's chief of staff from 2009 to 2010.^[5] In 2011, Coley was appointed as a public affairs liaison for the Prince George's County Council.^[4] He later served as the executive director of external relations for the Maryland Higher Education Commission and as the special assistant for government operations at Bowie State University.^[5] From summer 2025 to January 2026, Coley worked as a deputy director for the Prince George's County Department of the Environment,^[2] supervising the Animal Services Division, Climate and Energy Division, and legislative affairs.^[5]

Coley unsuccessfully ran for the Prince George's County Council in the 3rd district in 2006,^[6][7] placing third in the Democratic primary with 12.5 percent of the vote.^[8]

In December 2025, after state delegate Jazz Lewis announced that he would resign from the Maryland House of Delegates, Coley applied to serve the remainder of Lewis's term. His candidacy was supported by Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy. The Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee unanimously voted to nominate Coley to the seat on January 5, 2026.^[2] Governor Wes Moore appointed Coley to the seat on January 12, 2026,^[9] and he was sworn in the next day. He is a member of the Ways and Means Committee.^[10]

Coley married his wife, Okeysha Brooks, on August 31, 2002.^[3] Together, they have four children.^[10]