Anthony A. Williams
Mr. Williams, the former Mayor of Washington, D.C., is the Chief Executive Officer of Federal City Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of civic life in the nation’s capital. In his two terms as the mayor of Washington, D.C. from 1999 to 2007, he is credited with leading the city’s revitalization, restoring its finances and dramatically improving city services. As the independent Chief Financial Officer of the District of Columbia from 1995 to 1998, he worked with local officials, the D.C. Financial Control Board, and the U.S. Congress. He has held various positions in federal, state, and local government including serving as the first CFO for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a position to which he was appointed by President Bill Clinton and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. A senior consultant on issues of municipal restructuring, Mr. Williams has served as the William H. Bloomberg Lecturer in Public Management at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Mr. Williams holds a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School, a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College, as well as a number of honorary degrees and awards, including the 2020 ULI Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development.
Mr. Williams’ extensive experience in financial oversight, particularly in public sector finance, positions him as a highly qualified financial expert. As the independent CFO of the District of Columbia, Mr. Williams was responsible for managing the city’s finances during a critical period of revitalization. His role involved overseeing the budgeting process, financial planning, and the management of public funds, all of which are directly relevant to financial expertise.
Additionally, Mr. Williams served as Deputy Comptroller of the State of Connecticut, where he gained further experience in overseeing state finances and public fund management. His appointment as the first CFO for the U.S. Department of Agriculture by President Bill Clinton, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, further highlights his credibility and competence in financial management at a federal level. His experience in this role involved extensive financial oversight, including compliance with federal financial regulations, financial reporting, and managing large-scale budgets.
Mr. Williams also taught public finance for three years at the Harvard Kennedy School, where he provided academic instruction on complex financial systems and public-sector budgeting. Furthermore, he has served on the audit committees of several companies and large nonprofit organizations, reinforcing his deep understanding of financial oversight, risk management, and internal controls. Moreover, his current position as CEO and Executive Director of the Federal City Council involves financial oversight and strategic financial planning, enhancing his qualifications as a financial expert.