Dr. Ron Carlee

Ron’s career began as Assistant to the Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, where he was shaped by the civil rights movement and mentored by Mayor David J. Vann, developing the ethical foundation that has guided his leadership philosophy.

In 1980, Ron began his career with Arlington County, Virginia as a budget analyst. Over the following years, he advanced through various leadership positions across multiple departments, taking on roles as purchasing agent and director of parks and recreation. In 1987, he was appointed director of Arlington's integrated health and human services agency, becoming the first non-medical professional to lead this organization that encompassed public health, social services, behavioral healthcare, employment services, and housing programs. While in this role, he also directed the Department of Information Technology.

As Arlington County Manager from 2001 to 2009, Ron coordinated the county's emergency response to the September 11th Pentagon attack. His leadership during this crisis established a nationally recognized model for inter-agency coordination that would influence emergency management practices across the country. Throughout his tenure, Ron successfully navigated complex federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) processes while contributing to economic development initiatives that would later prove instrumental in Amazon's decision to locate its second headquarters in Arlington. Additionally, Ron’s dedication to social equity culminated in his advocacy for groundbreaking state legislation that enabled inclusive zoning policies, helping to establish Arlington's collaborative "Arlington Way" approach to addressing housing equity and community development.

As Chief Operating Officer/Executive in Residence for ICMA in Washington, DC. (2009 to 2013), Ron managed the day-to-day operations of the professional membership association for over 9,000 city, county, and town managers around the world. He led strategic and operational efforts to support local government managers and oversaw projects funded by numerous Foundations and Federal agencies.

Ron served under five mayors during turbulent times as City Manager in Charlotte, North Carolina (2013-2016), one of those Mayors pled guilty to bribery charges and was sent to prison. He also had to repeatedly reinforce the Council-Manager form of government structure, successfully defended against state takeover of the city's airport, advanced light rail strategy, and managed sensitive police-community relations during national social unrest.
Ron holds a DPA in Public Administration from George Mason University, along with a Master of Arts in Urban Studies from University of Alabama-Birmingham and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Montevallo, Alabama. His teaching spans decades, including 19 years at George Washington University's MPA/MPP programs. He currently works at Old Dominion University (ODU) Strome College of Business, School of Public Service, as a Clinical Assistant Professor where he bridges theory and practice.