Richard Lawrence Jr. Named Special Assistant to the Alexandria City Manager
ALEXANDRIA, VA–Alexandria City Manager Mark Jinks has announced the appointment of Richard Lawrence Jr. as Special Assistant to the City Manager, effective December 3. Lawrence’s appointment is the third in a City Manager’s Management Fellowship Program established by Jinks in 2015 to provide development opportunities for early career, mid-level City staff. The Special Assistant, who is appointed for 10 months, aids the City Manager’s Office in developing and implementing a wide variety of City priorities, initiatives and projects.
“During his eight-year tenure, Richard has worked on some of the City’s most complex and high-profile projects and planning initiatives, including the Waterfront Plan; the Oakville Triangle and Route 1 Corridor Plan; and the Potomac Yard Metro Station,” said Jinks. “His knowledge and experience will be an asset to the City Manager’s Office, and to Alexandria.”
Lawrence joined the City’s Department of Planning and Zoning in 2010 as a Senior Planning Technician, promoted through the ranks to Urban Planner I, II, and III. In his previous roles, he managed a variety of projects and initiatives, implemented long- and short-range projects, provided development and technical reviews, and facilitated community engagement processes.
Prior to his work in Alexandria, Lawrence worked in nonprofit affordable housing development and public policy research. He holds a dual bachelor’s degree in environmental design and social sciences and urban public policy studies from the University at Buffalo and a master’s degree in community planning from the University of Maryland.
Lawrence, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, also serves on the City’s General Schedule Employee Workgroup and the Board of Directors of the Alexandria Transit Company (DASH). He is President of the Alexandria Metropolitan Chapter of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA).
