City Manager Finalizes Executive Team with New Deputy City Manager Hire
City Manager James Parajon has announced the appointment of Jane Christenson as the City’s Deputy City Manager, following a national search involving over 200 candidates from across the country. A native of the D.C. metropolitan area and a long-time public servant, Christenson brings more than two decades of executive leadership in local government. Her career has focused on managing complex municipal operations across urban and suburban communities, with a strong emphasis on neighborhood public safety, responsible economic growth, and delivering high-quality services that enhance community well-being.
“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.”
Most recently, Christenson served as the Chief Executive Officer for Placer County, California, serving a population of more than 400,000 residents. In this capacity, she provided executive oversight for a 3,000-employee organization, administering multidisciplinary services while advancing the Board of Supervisors’ strategic initiatives. Her portfolio included daily operations, regional infrastructure partnerships, legislative affairs, and initiatives focused on balancing responsible development with community conservation and open space priorities. Previously, Christenson led the strategic direction and daily operations for the City of Redmond, Washington. Her work emphasized innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and regional planning to support sustainable, community-centered development. She is also known for her efforts to grow local innovation economies as a means of improving quality of life for both residents and businesses.
Christenson holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and a Master of Arts from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Policy. Ms. Christenson will join the City on October 14.