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Meet the Executive Cabinet for Prince William County
Christopher Shorter, County Executive (CXO)
Chris Shorter was named County Executive for Prince William County, Virginia, by the Board of County Supervisors in October 2022. Prior to serving as the County Executive in Prince William County, Chris served as the first City Administrator in the City of Baltimore, Assistant City Manager in Austin, Texas, and served for more than 10 years in various leadership roles for the District of Columbia government, including Director of the DC Department of Public Works.
Chris has dedicated his professional career to helping build better communities through improved municipal operations by supporting healthy, people-centered organizations. He has extensive experience across a range of disciplines and has helped lead the development of innovative local government programs, performance management initiatives, operational process improvements, teambuilding efforts, and strategic planning activities. Chris is a recognized member of the International City/ County Manager's Association (ICMA) and pledges to uphold the ICMA Code of Ethics. He was selected GoldenGov: City Executive of the Year in 2022. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public & International Affairs.
Chris is also a graduate of the International City/ County Management Association (ICMA) Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, and has attended senior executive leadership training programs at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School’s Aresty Institute of Executive Education, Harvard Kennedy School’s Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, as well as, Georgetown University and the George Washington University Center for Excellence in Public Leadership. He has three teenage children – Christopher, Evan and Nadia – and lives in Prince William County, VA.
Dan Alexander, Deputy County Executive for Safe & Secure Community
Dan Alexander was appointed as Prince William County’s Deputy County Executive for the Safe and Secure Community quadrant of government on February 1, 2022. In his position, he provides day-to-day leadership and administrative oversight of Criminal Justice Services, Fire and Rescue, Police and Public Safety Communications departments, as well as the Office of Community Safety. He also acts as a liaison to various independent public safety agencies in the county, including the Adult Detention Center, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, Sheriff’s Office, Circuit Court, General District Court, Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court, Magistrate, Probation and Parole (District 35), and the Public Defender. He has more than 33 years of diverse public safety experience with six different local governments, including 18 years of service as an agency chief. He was most recently the Chief of Police for the School District of Palm Beach County. He previously led the Cape Coral Police Department for four years and served as the Chief of Police in Boca Raton for over 13 years. Dan earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from the University of Florida in 1995, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 1989. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Dr. Alicia Hart, Deputy County Executive for Government Operations, Performance & Innovation
Dr. Alicia Hart serves as Prince William County’s Deputy County Executive for Government Operations, Performance and Innovation. In this role, she provides leadership and strategic direction for a broad portfolio of operational functions, including Facilities and Fleet Management, Human Resources, Information Technology, Strategic Planning, Performance Management and Procurement Services.
A seasoned public administrator with more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Hart has guided large, complex organizations through significant periods of transformation. Her expertise spans operations management, facilities oversight, financial administration and long-range capital planning.
She served as Chief Operating Officer for Alexandria City Public Schools, where she oversaw transportation, safety, capital programs and maintenance operations, and managed a 10-year, $500 million Capital Improvement Plan. Her prior leadership roles include Executive Director of Facilities and Operations and Director of Educational Facilities for Alexandria City Public Schools; Assistant Director of Public Works, Maintenance and Operations for Prince William County; and senior positions with the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, where she managed a multimillion-dollar operating budget and a department-wide grants program.
Dr. Hart holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Walden University, a Master of Business Administration from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Hampton University.
Nikki Brown, Communications and Engagement Director
Nikki Brown is currently the Communications and Engagement Director where she works with a talented team that is responsible for public and employee communications and engagement, legislative affairs and the office of the Clerk to the Board of County Supervisors. Prior to her current position, Nikki served as the Deputy Director of Executive Management and Assistant to the County Executive, where she managed the county’s legislative affairs program, special projects for Executive Management and the county’s employee engagement and internal communications efforts. She also served as the communications and change management subject matter expert on project teams for organizational initiatives. Nikki also served the county as the Deputy Director of the Office of Communications for more than 11 years. Throughout her 24-year tenure with the county, Nikki has provided strategic communications counsel, recommendations and direction to elected officials, executive management and multiple county agencies on marketing opportunities, internal communications, as well as community and media relations, to help accomplish identified goals. Nikki earned a B.A. in English from the University of Mary Washington and a M.A. in Strategic Communications from American University. She is a Certified Public Manager through the Council of Government’s Regional Development Excellence Program and the George Washington University.
Maria Burgos, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Maria Burgos has served as the Equity and Inclusion (EI) Officer for Prince William County since March 2021. In this role, she leads the county's work in operationalizing the county's Equity and Inclusion Policy with strategic coherence. This includes the development and implementation of the Equity and Inclusion Impact Plan to continuously reduce systemic barriers that impact every function of the employee lifecycle and services to all community stakeholders.
Before joining the County, Maria was the Supervisor of Global Learning and Culturally Responsive Instruction. In this role, she collaborated with the Division's departments to review instructional programs, analyze school climate, review student performance (Title VI, Title IX) for improvement in school climate and standards-based curriculum planning, developed the Division's Culturally Responsive Instructional Framework, and advised the Division on inclusive learning methodologies and human resource practices. Maria facilitated professional learning for the Virginia Department of Education, History, and Social Science, on Equity Literacy for Virginia History and Social Science Department Chairs and was commissioned by Governor Northam to make recommendations for improving the students' experience related to African American history and instructional support for all teachers to ensure culturally proficient instruction. In addition, she established systematic implementation of cultural proficiency and culturally responsive pedagogy in partnership with the Curry School of Education, University of Virginia. She provided recommendations to the Virginia Work Group on Student Safety.
Maria has lived in Prince William County for 27 years, earned a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from George Mason University with licensures in early education K-6 and educational leadership, and holds several certifications, including Anti-bias facilitator training from the Anti-Defamation League, International Baccalaureate IB Leadership Certification, and Strategic Management from the Baldrige Foundation Institute for Performance Excellence and has received numerous awards for her contributions to the educational community, and was a Human Rights Awardee.
Wade Hugh, Deputy County Executive for Mobility, Economic Growth & Resiliency
Wade Hugh joined Prince William County more than 27 years ago. He is currently the Deputy County Executive for Mobility, Economic Growth and Resiliency. In this role, he leads and supports the Department of Development Services, Planning Office, Department of Public Works, Department of Transportation and Department of Economic Development and Tourism. During his career, Wade has held a variety of increasingly senior positions across a wide array of Prince William County divisions and programs. Most recently, Wade served as Director of Development Services from 2008 – 2023. He served as the Assistant Director of Public Works from 2006 – 2008; and from 2003-2006, he served as Watershed Management Branch Chief, starting out as the Acting Chief, from his prior role of Management Analyst, where he served for seven years. Wade holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from West Virginia University. He is a Certified Zoning Administrator. Wade currently resides in Nokesville with his wife.
Elijah Johnson, Deputy County Executive for Health, Wellbeing & Environmental Sustainability
Elijah Johnson was appointed Deputy County Executive in October 2014. In this position, he is responsible for providing administrative oversight of the human services functions of the county, which includes Community Services, Area Agency on Aging, Department of Social Services, the Office of Housing and Community Development, Department of Parks and Recreation, Libraries, and the Office of Sustainability. He is also the liaison with the following state-supported human services agencies: Prince William Area Public Health District, Juvenile Court Service Unit and Virginia Cooperative Extension. He also works with the many community human service partners who provide invaluable service for Prince William County residents. Prior to accepting his current position, Elijah served as Prince William County’s Director for the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) for seven years. Before joining Prince William County, Elijah worked for the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Arlington County’s Department of Human Services Housing Office and the New York City Housing Authority. He is a graduate of Hampton University with a B.A. in Mathematics.
Mandi Spina, Chief Transformation Officer
Mandi Spina serves as Prince William County’s Chief Transformation Officer, bringing more than 13 years of dedicated service, strategic leadership, and innovation to the organization. Prior to her appointment, she served as Prince William County’s Director of Development Services, where she led a diverse team of more than 150 employees and oversaw critical functions including building and land development, zoning administration, and administrative operations.
Throughout her career, Mandi has been a driving force behind countywide transformation efforts, leading initiatives that improve operational efficiency, strengthen employee engagement, and elevate the customer experience. She has chaired multiple cross-departmental Process Action Teams, spearheaded high-impact supervisor and leadership development programs, and played key roles in County-wide efforts.
Her commitment to leadership excellence is demonstrated through her High-Performance Leadership Master Certification from the National Association of Counties Professional Development Academy and her recognition as the recipient of the Transformational Leadership Award at Prince William County’s inaugural Leadership Summit.
Mandi is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, earning a B.A in English Literature with minors in Communications and Administration of Justice.
Leslie B. Weldon, Director of Finance/Chief Financial Officer
Leslie B. Weldon serves as Prince William County’s Director of Finance & Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience in finance, accounting and executive operations across both the public and private sectors.
Before joining the county, Weldon served as Chief Financial Officer for the Virginia Retirement System (VRS), where she led a 55+ member Finance team responsible for general, investment and operations accounting, procurement and major financial programs. She previously served as Controller for VRS, where she oversaw the successful modernization of the agency’s accounting and payroll systems.
Weldon’s private-sector experience includes senior financial leadership roles with Anthem (now Elevance Health), Performance Fibers and Infineon Technologies. In her previous roles, some of her key areas of responsibility included accounting, budgeting, payroll, insurance, financial reporting and analysis and employee benefit plan oversight. In addition, she managed several projects including mergers & acquisitions, systems implementations and the oversight of the budget to construct new manufacturing and administrative facilities.
As Director of Finance/CFO, Weldon reports to the County Executive and serves as a key member of the county’s executive leadership team. She provides strategic oversight for the Office of Management & Budget and all Finance Department functions, including Financial Reporting & Control, Financial System Services, Payroll & Disbursement Services, Real Estate Assessments, Risk & Wellness Services, Tax Administration and Treasury Management.
Weldon plays a central role in guiding the county’s fiscal planning and performance, advancing transparency, accountability and long-term financial sustainability through innovative, data-informed practices.
She is a graduate of the Virginia Executive Institute, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Project Management Professional (PMP). Weldon is an active member of the Government Finance Officers’ Association, Virginia Society of CPAs, and the Public Pension Financial Forum. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Richmond.