Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields announced this morning that Michael Collins, P.E. has accepted the position of Director of Public Works for the City. Collins comes to Falls Church from Arlington County where he served as the Engineering Bureau Chief for the Department of Environmental Services.

Having been with Arlington County since 2000, he has worked in progressively responsible positions, Shields noted in his statement today, including Engineering Supervisor of Arlington County Water, Sewer, and Streets Division. In 2005, He was promoted to his current position, serving as the Chief Engineer for the County’s infrastructure design and construction agency and overseeing a staff of 60 engineers, construction managers, surveyors, and administrative staff.

Prior to working for Arlington County, Collins worked in the private sector for Albemarle Engineering in North Carolina. A native of Fairfax County, Collins earned his bachelor’s degree in Urban Systems Engineering and his Masters of Science from George Mason University.

Shields noted that Kirsten Munz, Kathy Allan, Richard Parker, and Cindy Mester of the City staff worked with him on the interview panel for this position. “We evaluated 35 applications, conducted phone interviews with nine candidates, and held in-person interviews with four finalists. It was during this last round that Collins toured City Hall and Property Yard earlier this month. He officially be starting with the City on December 9, filling the position vacated by the departure of Bill Hicks earlier this year.