County Honors Administrator Joe Casey Upon Retirement
TL;DR: Chesterfield County's Board of Supervisors honored County Administrator Dr. Joseph P. Casey upon his retirement effective July 1, 2026, marking the end of his 10-year tenure leading Virginia's fourth-largest county.
Quick facts
- Who: Dr. Joseph P. Casey, Chesterfield County Administrator
- What: Board of Supervisors formal recognition and resolution honoring Casey's retirement
- When: June 2026
- Where: Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors meeting
The story
Dr. Joseph P. Casey has concluded his decade-long tenure as Chesterfield County Administrator, with the Board of Supervisors formally recognizing his service through an adopted resolution honoring his retirement. Casey announced his departure in December 2025, effective July 1, 2026, marking exactly 10 years from the day he assumed the position in 2016. He cited his desire to spend more time with family, including his wife Suzanne, his sons, and to serve as a caretaker for his aging mother, as his reason for stepping down.
During his tenure, Casey led administrative operations for Virginia's fourth-largest county, overseeing a $2.4 billion budget and a workforce of more than 4,000 full-time employees serving more than 400,000 residents. Under his leadership, Chesterfield attracted major economic development projects including LEGO, Google, and Commonwealth Fusion Systems' first grid-scale nuclear fusion power plant, representing approximately $12 billion in capital investment and 10,200 new jobs while strengthening the county's commercial tax base.
Casey's public service career spans 37 years across three Richmond-region localities, with prior roles as Deputy County Administrator in both Henrico and Hanover counties. Beyond local government, he has maintained academic connections as an adjunct professor at VCU and Virginia Tech, and has been recognized as the 2025 recipient of the Virginia Business Inaugural C-Suite Award. The Board of Supervisors praised his leadership, with Supervisor Kevin Carroll noting that Casey had been "an inspirational leader" who "truly cares about the community."
The county has moved quickly with its succession planning. Dr. Kevin A. Catlin, previously leading county administration in Michigan, has been selected as Casey's successor and will officially begin his role on August 24, 2026.
Key players
- Dr. Joseph P. Casey: County Administrator, retiring after 10 years
- Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors: County governing body presenting formal recognition
- Dr. Kevin A. Catlin: Successor County Administrator, starting August 24, 2026
Key dates
- 2026-07-01: Joe Casey's retirement becomes effective
- 2026-08-24: Dr. Kevin A. Catlin officially begins as County Administrator
The case for
Casey's 10-year record demonstrates strong county stewardship: economic development has flourished under his leadership, the county maintains a AAAA bond rating reflecting fiscal management, and he successfully managed the county through significant transitions while maintaining employee morale and service continuity.
The case against
The loss of a decade of institutional knowledge and established relationships with state, regional, and corporate partners creates transition challenges for the incoming administrator and Board of Supervisors during a period when the county faces ongoing budget demands and growth management pressures.
Why it matters: Casey's retirement marks a significant leadership transition for Chesterfield County at a time when the county is managing rapid development, economic growth, and complex service delivery to over 400,000 residents. The smooth succession planning demonstrates the Board's commitment to continuity while new leadership brings fresh perspectives to ongoing county priorities.
Places
Development timeline
- 2016-07-01Dr. Casey Begins Tenure as County Administrator: Casey assumed leadership of Chesterfield County's administrative operations following national recruitment [[source]](https://www.chesterfield.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=6871)
- 2025-12-10Casey Announces Retirement: Announced plans to retire effective July 1, 2026, citing desire to spend time with family [[source]](https://www.12onyourside.com/2025/12/10/chesterfield-county-administrator-joe-casey-set-retire/)
- 2026-06-22Board Selects Successor: Board of Supervisors announced selection of Dr. Kevin A. Catlin as next County Administrator [[source]](https://richmondbizsense.com/2026/06/22/breaking-news-chesterfield-names-new-county-administrator/)
- 2026-06-24Board Formally Recognizes Casey: Board of Supervisors adopted resolution honoring Dr. Casey's 10 years of service and leadership [[source]](https://www.chesterfield.gov/1218/Board-of-Supervisors)
Related links
- County Administrator Joe Casey to Retire Effective July 2026
- Board of Supervisors Begins Recruitment Process for New County Administrator
- Dr. Joseph P. Casey Staff Directory
- Board of Supervisors Agendas and Minutes
Read the original at Chesterfield County (YouTube) →
Sources
- County Administrator Joe Casey to Retire Effective July 2026
- Board of Supervisors Begins Recruitment Process for New County Administrator
- Chesterfield County Administrator Joe Casey set to retire
- An inspirational leader: Top Chesterfield official to retire after decades of public service
- Chesterfield names Michigan county administrator to replace retiring Joe Casey