Arlington Appoints New Deputy County Manager

Arlington has hired a former Department of Homeland Security official as a deputy county manager in charge of the Department of Environmental Services.

Carol Mitten most recently served as Executive Director for Urban Affairs and Headquarters Consolidation at Homeland Security, before which she was chief of the Land Resources Program Center for the National Capital Region at the National Park Service, according to the county’s press release.

“I am thrilled to have Carol join my team,” Donnellan said in the release. “She brings broad and deep experience, as well as a fresh perspective.”

Mitten will oversee Arlington’s largest department, which deals with everything from the county’s roads and waste collection to local transit and parking. She starts work on Jan. 5.

Mitten will be Donnellan’s second deputy county manager, joining Mark Schwartz, who’s been Donnellan’s second-in-command since 2010. Donnellan also employs six assistant county managers among her staff.

Mitten’s experience in local government came across the river, while serving on the District’s Zoning Commission.

“While working in D.C. government, I came to deeply appreciate the positive impact that local government can have on the lives of our community,” Mitten said in the release. “This is where I developed my passion for local government, and I’m so pleased to be joining the Arlington team.”

Arlington’s full announcement of Mitten’s hiring, after the jump:

Arlington County Manager Barbara Donnellan has appointed Carol J. Mitten as Deputy County Manager; she takes her position January 5, 2015. Prior to joining Arlington, Ms. Mitten served as Executive Director for Urban Affairs and Headquarters Consolidation at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“I am thrilled to have Carol join my team,” said Donnellan. “She brings broad and deep experience, as well as a fresh perspective.”

As Deputy County Manager, Ms. Mitten’s primary responsibility will be for the Department of Environmental Services (DES), Arlington County Government’s largest department. Transportation engineering, water-sewer-streets and solid waste management are all part of DES. The department manages strategic transportation, environmental management, engineering and infrastructure, and capital investment projects. The department also provides the County’s core operations and public works services, including trash and recycling; wastewater treatment; water, sewer and streets maintenance; traffic management; and transit.

About Carol Mitten
Ms. Mitten has 30 years of diverse management experience, much of which has been related to developing real estate strategies and negotiating complex real estate transactions. Before assuming her role at DHS, she served as Chief of the Land Resources Program Center for the National Capital Region at the National Park Service (NPS). Prior to NPS, she represented Amtrak as Project Manager for the redevelopment of Penn Station in New York City. Penn Station is the largest intermodal transportation hub in the country, serving more than 600,000 passengers daily.

She joined Amtrak following her tenure as Director of the Office of Property Management for the District of Columbia under Mayor Anthony Williams, where she managed a portfolio of more than eight million square feet. She also served on the DC Zoning Commission (1999-2007), including seven years as Chairman. Her diverse real estate experience builds on a 20-year career in the private sector as a nationally-recognized commercial real estate appraiser.

“While working in D.C. government, I came to deeply appreciate the positive impact that local government can have on the lives of our community,” said Ms. Mitten. “This is where I developed my passion for local government, and I’m so pleased to be joining the Arlington team.”

After attending the U.S. Naval Academy, Ms. Mitten received her BA and MBA from The Ohio State University. Ms. Mitten is a past President and board member of the Washington, D.C. Association of Realtors, and was a member of The Committee of 100 on the Federal City.