The City of Alexandria is pleased to announce the appointment of Vanetta Pledger as its new Deputy City Manager, effective Tuesday, October 13. Pledger brings more than 20 years of dedicated public service experience to the role. For the last decade, she has served as the City’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Director of Information Technology Services.  

“Vanetta brings a deep knowledge of the City and the organization, and she has proven to be results-driven in her two decades of public sector experience, which will serve her well in the new role”, said City Manager Jim Parajon. “Her addition to the City Manager’s Office team is a logical step towards making Alexandria a more connected, efficient, and equitable city.”  

In her new role, Pledger will oversee planning, technology, community engagement, race and social equity, finance, tourism, and innovation. 

As CIO, Pledger led major technological projects, including deploying a critical communications fiber optic network, modernizing the City’s land-use management processes, and establishing the City's 311 customer service platform. Recognized nationally for her forward-thinking leadership, she also led critical digital initiatives to strengthen the City’s cybersecurity and organization resilience.  

Pledger holds a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and a master’s degree from The George Washington University. She is a 2026 graduate of the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the Harvard Kennedy School.