City Manager James Parajon has appointed Jane Christenson as the new Deputy City Manager for Alexandria. The selection comes after a national search that included over 200 candidates from across the United States.
Christenson, who is originally from the D.C. metropolitan area, has more than twenty years of executive leadership experience in local government. Her work has centered on managing complex municipal operations in both urban and suburban areas, with an emphasis on neighborhood public safety, economic growth, and high-quality service delivery.
“Jane brings an exceptional combination of strategic insight, operational expertise, and executive leadership,” said Parajon. “She has successfully led large, complex organizations through growth and change, while delivering results across diverse policy areas. Her experience will be instrumental as we continue to advance Alexandria’s strategic goals and serve the community with excellence.”
Before joining Alexandria, Christenson served as Chief Executive Officer for Placer County, California, where she oversaw a workforce of 3,000 employees serving more than 400,000 residents. In this role, she managed daily operations and regional infrastructure partnerships while advancing legislative initiatives focused on responsible development and community conservation.
Previously, she directed strategy and operations for the City of Redmond in Washington State. There her focus was on innovation, collaboration across sectors, regional planning for sustainable development, and fostering local innovation economies to improve quality of life.
Christenson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and a Master of Arts from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Policy. She will begin her role with the City on October 14.
