Virgil Hazelett Image Virgil Hazelett has worked in local government for nearly four decades, beginning in July 1969 as Urban Transportation Planning Engineer for the City of High Point, North Carolina. He served as the City's Assistant Traffic Engineer from April 1970 to August 1972.

Mr. Hazelett began his career with the County of Henrico in September 1972 in the Department of Public Works as the County's first Traffic Engineer. In March 1977, he was promoted to the position of Assistant Director of Public Works. Mr. Hazelett was named Director of Public Works in May 1986, a position he held until his next promotion in December 1989 to Deputy County Manager for Community Development. A year later, Mr. Hazelett assumed the position of Deputy County Manager for Administration and Chief of Staff. In January 1992, he was unanimously appointed County Manager by the Board of Supervisors.

As the County's chief administrative officer, Mr. Hazelett has overall responsibility for the County's general government operations, a Fiscal Year 2007-2008 operating budget of $964.1 million and capital budget of $117.4 million, and a work force encompassing more than 10,000 general government and education employees. He directly supervises five Deputy County Managers and the County Attorney as well as the directors of several County agencies, including the Office of Internal Audit, the Divisions of Fire and Police, and the Departments of Human Resources and Public Relations & Media Services.

Mr. Hazelett has a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University (1968), granted under an Eno Traffic Foundation Fellowship, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the West Virginia Institute of Technology (1967). He was employed by the West Virginia State Road Commission while in graduate school and after earning his graduate degree. Mr. Hazelett is a Registered Professional Engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of North Carolina.

During his tenure with the County, Mr. Hazelett has participated in a variety of professional activities and has held memberships in the International City Management Association, Virginia Local Government Management Association, American Public Works Association, National Association of County Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers, National Society of Professional Engineers, and Virginia Society of Professional Engineers. Mr. Hazelett is a Fellow of the International Institute of Transportation Engineers, where he served as Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Institute's Virginia Section from 1976-77. He is an alumnus of the Leadership Metro Richmond Class of 1989 and has been a member of the Western Henrico Rotary Club since November 1990.

The Board of Supervisors presented Mr. Hazelett with a Resolution of Commendation in 1999 for his "superior performance, skilled leadership, tireless service in implementing the policies and priorities of the Board of Supervisors, and focused efforts to prepare Henrico County government for the challenges of the twenty-first century." The following year, he received the Innsbrook Rotary Club Business Leadership Award for "demonstrating excellent leadership in business and the community, while also displaying a commitment to high ethical standards and community service."

Mr. Hazelett's excellent fiscal stewardship, in concert with policies established by the Board of Supervisors, is evidenced by the County's superior governmental and enterprise fund bond ratings, significant tax rate reductions, nationally recognized financial reporting and budgeting procedures, prudent capital improvements plan, and low tax burden. He has strongly emphasized quality customer relations and responsiveness to the taxpaying public and has put into action a number of innovative programs that have benefited Henrico citizens and received national acclaim.

Mr. Hazelett is married and the father of two grown daughters.