City of Atlanta’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Joshua Williams has resigned from his position. The announcement was made by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Oct. 5. Williams’ last day will be Dec. 1.
Williams joined the City of Atlanta back in 2018 when Bottoms appointed him as deputy COO. He became COO in 2019 after former Richard Cox served for 15 months as an “executive on loan” from COX Enterprise.
“I appreciate Joshua Williams and his service to the City of Atlanta as Chief Operating Officer and previously as Deputy COO,” Bottoms said. “He has been a valued member of my senior team and a key driver in our Administration’s accomplishments. I wish him continued success as he transitions to the next phase of his career.”
As COO, Williams reported directly to Bottoms and was responsible for managing all city operating departments, and related agencies including Aviation, Police, Fire, Corrections, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, Planning and Community Development, Public Works, Watershed Management, Human Resources, Procurement, Information Technology, Sustainability and Enterprise Assets.
“Serving the City in this capacity has been an honor and I thank Mayor Bottoms for her leadership, faith and unwavering support,” Williams said. “Thank you to the more than 20 departments and teams I have had the pleasure of working alongside these past few years, as well as a special thank you to the Atlanta community for their support.”
Prior to serving as the City’s deputy COO and COO, Williams was the COO of DeKalb County Schools for four years. He joined the school system in 2008 and held previous positions including executive director of Facilities Management and director of Facility Planning and Construction.
During his tenure with the City of Atlanta, Williams oversaw and executed numerous policies and reforms on behalf of the Bottoms Administration, including:
- Served as co-Chair of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on the Reopening of the City of Atlanta, designed to provide evidence-based short, mid, and long-range recommendations for the safe and data-driven reopening of the City.
- Oversaw the development of the Administration’s $2 billion Annual Operating Budget.
Maintained continuity of City operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. - Oversaw the efforts of the Mayor’s Use of Force Advisory Council, comprised of community members and partners to examine the City’s use of force policies and procedures.
- Established the City’s first-ever Department of Transportation to improve safety and accessibility on city streets, consolidate services to meet the increasing demands of
- Atlanta’s growing population, and enhance connectivity between neighborhoods to provide more equitable transportation options for residents seeking greater access to jobs, schools, and other City services.
- Re-baselined and reprioritized the City’s $900 million Renew Atlanta / TSPLOST capital programs in response to a $400 million budget shortfall.
- Implemented Fix-It ATL, a vigorous and proactive operations campaign designed to improve the quality of life for Atlanta residents and visitors by accelerating the repair of potholes, the beautification of public spaces, and the identification of other infrastructure issues in need of attention.
- Successfully hosted Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta through the effective coordination of various City services, public safety, and community engagement initiatives.
