Biography
Wyatt Shields has served as Falls Church City Manager since January 2007, previously serving as Acting City Manager since July 2006. As City Manager, Mr. Shields is responsible for the overall administrative and operations activities of the city.

Mr. Shields first joined the city in August 2003 as Assistant City Manager. During his tenure as Assistant City Manager, Mr. Shields managed the annual development of the city’s Capital Improvements Program, which led to increased parkland, new playing fields, a new middle school, an expanded elementary school, and other improvements to the city. He also served as the staff lead for a citizen’s Open Space Task Force and principal author of their final report, which included an open space acquisition plan.

A strong advocate for city interests, Mr. Shields developed the city’s annual Legislation Program, and tracked key issues for the City Council on Capitol Hill and in Richmond. With a focus on transportation issues, he helped secure millions in federal and state funds to continue streetscape and eventual city center improvements in the city.

Prior to joining the City of Falls Church, Mr. Shields served as Town Administrator for 5 years in Scottsville, Virginia. Prior to working in local government, Mr. Shields worked on Capitol Hill on the staff of former U.S. Senator Charles S. Robb, and later worked for Dominion Virginia Power in its Office of Government Relations.

Mr. Shields earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a Master of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. He also completed the Senior Executive Institute leadership development program at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in 2005.

Wyatt provides leadership and direction to the staff and in the planning, organizing, directing and monitoring, controlling and evaluating of city operations.