Charlottesville names Jason McIlwee utilities director

City of Charlottesville selects Jason McIlwee as director of utilities

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The City of Charlottesville is pleased to announce that Jason McIlwee, P.E. has been selected as director of utilities.

McIlwee succeeds Lauren Hildebrand, who is retiring after 19 years of dedicated service to the City of Charlottesville. During her tenure, Hildebrand played a pivotal role in advancing the city's utility infrastructure, strengthening system reliability, and leading the department through significant capital investments and operational improvements. The city extends its sincere gratitude to Lauren for her years of leadership and service and congratulates her on a well-earned retirement.

McIlwee brings more than 20 years of experience in utility operations, engineering, and executive leadership, including 16 years serving the City of Charlottesville. He has served as the city's deputy director of utilities (administration and engineering) since 2024, leading strategic planning, departmental operations, capital improvement planning, and administrative functions for one of the city's largest departments.

"Jason has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout his career and a deep commitment to serving the Charlottesville community," said City Manager Sam Sanders. "His technical expertise and strategic vision make him well suited to lead our Utilities Department as we continue investing in reliable infrastructure and exceptional service for our community members."

As deputy director, McIlwee oversaw the department's five-year capital improvement program totaling more than $39 million and helped manage an annual operating budget exceeding $70 million. Throughout his career, he led major infrastructure initiatives involving water, wastewater, stormwater, and natural gas systems while focusing on operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and long-term planning.

Before returning to the city, McIlwee served as associate director of utilities and waste treatment for Merck & Co., where he managed 24/7 utility and wastewater operations, led cross-functional teams, and oversaw complex industrial utility systems and labor relations. Prior to that, he held several engineering and management positions within Charlottesville's Utilities Department, beginning with the city in 2008.

A licensed professional engineer in Virginia, McIlwee holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental science from Virginia Tech and maintains multiple water, wastewater, and power plant operator licenses. He is an active industry leader, frequently presenting at regional conferences and publishing on utility leadership and system optimization.

"I am honored to serve the Charlottesville community in this new role," said McIlwee. "Our Utilities team is made up of dedicated professionals who work every day to provide safe, reliable, and high-quality utility services. I look forward to building on that strong foundation as we continue investing in our infrastructure and serving our community."

Outside of managing the city's utilities, Jason enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling with his wife and 13-year-old son. Native to the nearby Augusta County, Jason can often be found outside alongside his family and two energetic cattle dogs.