Fairfax City Leaders Hire New City Manager

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City Council voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Tuesday night to hire Daniel C. Alexander as the city's new permanent city manager.

"I humbly thankful for this opportunity," Alexander said, following the announcement. "I look forward to advancing your vision as a council and your agenda for the City of Fairfax. To our community, I commit to being engaged and accessible, listening and learning as we go. For our workforce, I've already seen how dedicated and professional staff we have here are, so I look forward to supporting them in the work that they do every day. Thank you again for this great opportunity to serve. Look forward to work with all of you."

Since February 2022,, Alexander is the deputy county executive in Prince William County, overseeing a portfolio of 15 public safety and community services agencies. He will begin his employment with Fairfax City on Jan. 5, 2026.

“After a wide-ranging search and careful deliberations, the city council has selected a candidate that brings a great deal of experience in local government to our city,” said City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read. “Mr. Alexander is a seasoned professional who understands the demands of running municipal operations and will be a steady leader for our very capable leadership team and employees. We look forward to working with him.”

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Alexander succeeds acting City Manager Melanie R. Zipp, who was appointed to the role following the Oct. 31 retirement of the previous acting City Manager Bryan Foster.

The city council has been seeking a permanent city manager since the previous council terminated former City Manager Laszlo Palko's contract at its final meeting in December.

Prior to Foster's appointment, Deputy City Manager Valmarie H. Turner acted as interim city manager until her departure in January to become the city manager in Roanoke, Virginia.

The City of Fairfax released the following information about Alexander's previous experience.

Mr. Alexander has three decades of public service experience with six local government organizations. In his role as deputy county executive, Mr. Alexander has provided strategic leadership and administrative oversight for the Safe and Secure Community quadrant of Prince William County government, which encompasses five county departments and 10 liaison entities, representing more than 2,600 professionals and an annual funding base exceeding $500 million. He helped establish the Office of Community Safety to lead prevention and intervention efforts grounded in engagement, data, and systems coordination.

Prior to joining Prince William County, Mr. Alexander spent more than 18 years as an agency chief in three different jurisdictions and also served as acting assistant city manager in Cape Coral, Florida. He has led complex organizations through periods of growth, modernization, and cultural transformation. He holds both a Master of Arts in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

“I am humbled and honored by the council’s trust and excited to serve the City of Fairfax,” Mr. Alexander said. “This is a community that enjoys great leadership, strong civic spirit, and dedicated employees. I look forward to working with the council, supporting our talented staff, and engaging openly with residents to keep our city moving forward.”

Melanie Zipp, who has served as acting city manager since November 1, will resume her regular responsibilities as assistant city manager upon Mr. Alexander’s arrival.