Pittsburgh's political landscape is set to shift as Mayor-Elect Corey O'Connor moves swiftly to assemble his team, poised to lead the city into its next chapter. In a recent announcement, O'Connor declared Dan Gilman as his choice for Chief of Staff and Sheldon Williams as his nominee for Director of Public Safety. Gilman, who is at the helm as Chief of Staff to the President at Duquesne University, carries with him an extensive tenure of service within Pittsburgh's governmental framework, including stints as councilman and mayoral chief of staff. "We need to hit the ground running on day one, so we need leadership that knows the city, knows the residents, and knows how to get things done," O'Connor stated, emphasizing Gilman's deep roots and acumen in city affairs, as reported by WPXI.
Williams, O'Connor's pick for Public Safety Director, carries a multifaceted background spanning the spectrum from military service to law enforcement to ministry. His tenure encapsulates 18 years in the Army Reserve and Air Force National Guard, in addition to his expansive work with Pittsburgh's Bureau of Police, where he served as a paramedic, and notably on the SWAT team and Bomb Squad. Following his retirement, Williams was called to serve as an Administrative Pastor, and later joined the University of Pittsburgh as a faculty member. "With a career in the military, emergency medical services, police, and fire, Sheldon understands what it’s like to be boots on the ground when you respond to a call," expressed O'Connor, as cited by WTAE.
The city's current Public Safety Director, Lee Schmidt, is making his exit, paving the way for Williams to step in. Schmidt circulated an email declaring his departure as a "bittersweet moment" for him. Ensuring a smooth transition, Schmidt will remain in his post until January, overseeing the handoff of responsibilities.
