Prince William County Announces Appointment of New Deputy County Executive for Safe and Secure Community

Following an extensive national search, County Executive Chris Shorter has appointed Robert Blakley as the Deputy County Executive for the Safe and Secure Community quadrant of government. The Board of County Supervisors concurred with the County Executive’s decision to appoint Blakley, who will start with the county on Monday, April 13, 2026.  

The Safe and Secure Community portfolio is the second-largest functional area in the county government, with combined agency budgets of nearly $550 million for FY 2026 and more than 2,600 employees. In his new role, Blakley will oversee and provide support to several county departments, including Criminal Justice Services, Fire and Rescue, Police, Public Safety Communications and the Office of Community Safety. In addition, he will serve as a liaison to several key independent public safety and criminal justice partners, 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. 

Blakley is a seasoned law enforcement executive with more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience, including roles as Patrol Supervisor, Bureau Commander, Division Commander and Deputy Chief with the Fairfax County Police Department.  As Assistant Chief of Operations for the Fairfax County Police Department, he led all uniformed and special operations, driving change that strengthened organizational morale, sharpened mission focus and improved performance through clear, strategic communication.  Previous to Fairfax County, Blakley worked for the Virginia State Police and served in the Marine Corps. 

“I am very excited to welcome Robert Blakley to the team,” said Shorter. “His proven ability to lead complex operations, drive results and align teams around mission-critical priorities makes him an exceptional addition to our executive leadership team. His experience will be critical as we advance a coordinated approach to public safety that strengthens prevention, response and community trust.” 

“I’m honored and excited to serve in this role, and I’m grateful to the County Executive and the Board for the opportunity,” said Blakley. “The safety challenges we face don’t begin and end with policing. I’m committed to a whole-of-government approach that brings our agencies and community partners together to prevent harm, support those in crisis and build a safer, more resilient community for everyone.”  

Blakley holds a Bachelor of Applied Studies from the University of Richmond with a degree in HR Management and a minor in Leadership, as well as a Master of Public Administration degree from George Mason University. He serves as an adjunct professor for George Mason University’s School of Criminology, Law and Society. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Senior Management Institute for Police from the Police Executive Research Forum, and the Professional Executive Leadership School from the University of Richmond.