County Administrator Clay Goodman today named William F. “Bill” Hunter the new Director of Roanoke County’s Communications and Information Technology Department. Hunter, 55, has worked for Roanoke County for more than nine years – most recently as the department’s Assistant Director for Communications.

“Bill is absolutely the right person for the job and will hit the ground running. He has a strong understanding of our computer systems, years of management experience, and a proven track record of working well with people to get the job done,” said Goodman. The County’s Communications and Information Technology Department is responsible for all information technology functions for the County and Town of Vinton. The department also has oversight of the Emergency Communications Center (911 dispatch) that serves the County and Town of Vinton. In addition, the department oversees maintenance of the public safety radio systems that serve the County, Town of Vinton, and City of Roanoke.

Hunter began his career with Roanoke County in 2003. He was initially hired as the department’s Infrastructure Services Manager before being promoted to Assistant Director for Communications. Under his direction, the Emergency Communications Center earned national reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Hunter also worked with staff to develop a streamlined candidate selection process for the hiring of 911 dispatchers that reduced the hiring time from three months to one. He was also instrumental in the successful consolidation of the County and Town of Vinton 911 operations.

Hunter will begin work as Director of the department effective today. The Director of Communications and Information Technology position was advertised after the former Director, Bill Greeves, left for a position with Wake County, North Carolina.

Hunter is a 20 year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former U.S Customs Tactical Communications Officer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from St. Leo College in Florida. He also holds an Associate of Applied Science in Electronic Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force.

Hunter lives in Roanoke County. He and his wife have a grown son and daughter.

Submitted by Teresa Hall