A proven leader and manager with significant experience in geospatial technology, information and personnel management, and local government operations, Dave Arnold stepped into the new position of Assistant Pittsylvania County Administrator earlier this month. Arnold will work to implement Pittsylvania County's new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) program and make Pittsylvania County data more accessible and usable.
“Pittsylvania County leaders are very ambitious, they have their sights set on not just maintaining the status quo, but something bigger,” Arnold said. “They have a vision for this brighter day, and I feel like my skills will help get them there.”
In this newly created role, Arnold will oversee all information management, including departments like Information Technology, Geographic Information Systems, and Human Resources. In short, Arnold will be identifying how to best manage county data and convert those data into actionable information that can be utilized by county staff and citizens alike.
One of the biggest responsibilities Arnold will have is overseeing the implementation of ESRI’s ArcGIS Enterprise, a geographic information system that will allow Pittsylvania County staff and citizens to utilize a wide range of the software platform’s capabilities and features. This program, which was purchased with federal CARES Act funds, will be a major asset to all of Pittsylvania County under Arnold’s leadership.
“Geography is at the heart of just about every single dataset maintained by government agencies,” Arnold said. “That’s why it’s helpful to have a geographic mindset when looking at the county, both in terms of how the county relates to other localities as well as how different areas within the County relate to each other.”
In this position, Arnold has some overarching goals that will guide his work:
- Ensuring that all of the County’s technical resources support both the mission and effectiveness of county government
- Streamlining County government processes by leveraging technology, which includes continuing to shift away from paper for file and records management
- Providing greater access to and awareness of county services and operations to Pittsylvania County residents
Arnold has extensive experience working in personnel management, information technology, geography, and geographic information systems. Since obtaining his Master’s Degree in Geography from Virginia Tech in 2007, Arnold has worked in a variety of roles surrounding geospatial technology and personnel management. Most recently, Arnold worked with the City of Virginia Beach Center for Geospatial Information Services.
“Dave is the perfect complement to our team,” said Pittsylvania County Administrator David Smitherman. “He brings knowledge and vision of how to improve citizen service through technological solutions. We became a better organization when Dave started work last week.”
Originally from Salem, Virginia, Arnold is excited to move back into the Blue Ridge area. He enjoys playing tennis and spending time outside enjoying the region’s natural resources.
