‘An operational Swiss Army knife’: Richmond appoints new deputy CAO for Operations
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond has appointed a man described as "an operational Swiss Army knife" as its new Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Operations.
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, city leaders announced that Al Wiggins will officially step into the role of DCAO for Operations on Aug. 28.
Wiggins, a U.S. Air Force veteran with more than two decades of leadership experience, is coming to Richmond from Atlanta, Georgia, where he currently serves as the senior advisor to the city's Chief Operating Officer (CAO). He first stepped into public service as a police officer and has held a variety of roles since then.
Al Wiggins, Richmond's new Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Operations. (Photo: City of Richmond)
Wiggins served Atlanta amid several crisis events, including the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and a period of "environmental and infrastructure crisis," according to Richmond officials. During these hard times, he "emphasized transparency, accountability and performance optimization," improved service to residents and cut down on government waste.
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“Mr. Wiggins is an operational Swiss Army knife, a seasoned leader with more than two decades of experience in government operations and public service,” said Odie Donald, Richmond's CAO, in the release. “His path from exemplary Air Force service to diverse leadership experiences in both cities and counties, and overall knack for service delivery, will make him someone the City of Richmond can count on.”
