FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2026

City of Charlottesville Appoints Samuel Roman as Assistant City Manager

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The City of Charlottesville has appointed Samuel Roman, known as Roman, as its new Assistant City Manager, bringing decades of leadership experience in public safety, municipal operations, and community-centered governance.

In this role, Roman will oversee the City’s public safety and human services portfolio, including Police, Fire, Emergency Management, and Human Services. He will work closely with department leadership to strengthen service delivery, support organizational performance, and ensure that community engagement remains a foundational element of City operations.

Roman joins Charlottesville from the City of Roanoke, where he has served as Deputy City Manager since 2023. In that role, he led major operational functions behind the scenes, including oversight of the City’s capital improvement program and complex infrastructure initiatives such as the $45 million Wasena Bridge replacement project. His work focused on coordination, fiscal responsibility, and ensuring large-scale projects advanced with strong internal alignment and public accountability.

“Roman brings a deep understanding of public safety operations along with a collaborative, community-focused leadership style,” said City Manager Sam Sanders. “His experience leading complex portfolios, managing major capital projects, and embedding community engagement into operational decision-making will be a strong asset to our executive leadership team.”

Prior to serving as Deputy City Manager, Roman built a career in public safety, serving as Police Chief in both Roanoke and Lexington, Virginia. Throughout his leadership roles, he emphasized accountability, professional development, and trust-building with the community. He also championed innovative training initiatives designed to strengthen officers’ emotional intelligence and understanding of the communities they serve, including collaborative programs with the Holocaust Museum and the Anti-Defamation League focused on empathy, perspective, and responsibility in public service.

Across both his public safety and operations roles, Roman consistently centered community engagement as a core element of City work—meeting residents where they are, listening to concerns, and incorporating public input into projects whenever feasible. He has emphasized that meaningful engagement should occur early and inform how projects are planned and delivered.

Roman and his wife have two children. He enjoys playing basketball and looks forward to exploring the local food scene.

Media Contact
Afton Schneider
Director of Communications and Public Engagement
City of Charlottesville
434-996-0331
media@charlottesville.gov