FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Albemarle County, Virginia – The Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center (CUA-ECC) Management Board met today to announce that, following a nationwide recruitment effort, Heather Hilliard will lead the agency as Executive Director, effective July 7, 2025.
Ms. Hilliard brings experience in public safety and local government, including as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, field responder, supervisor, field training officer, and roles in executive leadership, including serving as the Deputy Executive Director for the City of New Orleans 911/311.
“We are pleased to welcome Ms. Hilliard to the Emergency Communications Center,” said Ashley Reynolds Marshall, Deputy City Manager for Social Equity in the City of Charlottesville and current Chair of the ECC Board. “The Board was especially impressed by the depth and breadth of her experience — from serving on the front lines as a 9-1-1 dispatcher in Pennsylvania to leading complex public safety initiatives in New Orleans. Her perspective and leadership will greatly benefit the organization and the communities we serve.”
“I am honored by the trust placed in me by the ECC Board and appreciate the opportunity to work for the Charlottesville-Albemarle community, helping ensure excellent emergency response service in their greatest time of need.” said Heather Hilliard. “I’m thrilled to begin creating a strategic pathway for success for the organization and its most important assets – the team members who serve the public every day.”
Hilliard holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.A. from Tulane University. Additionally, she holds certifications as an Emergency Medical Technician, a Certified IAED Dispatcher for Police, Fire, EMS, and is a Certified APCO Telecommunicator. The ECC Management Board would also like to express its gratitude to Lily Gregg, ECC Deputy Director—Information Technology, who served as interim director since November 2024 while the recruitment was underway.
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About the Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center (ECC):
Established in 1984, the Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center (ECC) is a regionally consolidated public safety answering point (PSAP) serving Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia. The ECC handles all 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls for the region and serves as the central dispatch for local police departments, fire services, and rescue squads. A nationally recognized center, the ECC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and is designated as an APCO National Certified Training Program.
Media Contact:
Lily Gregg – Deputy Director, Information Technology
Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle County Emergency Communications Center