Alexandria names DC’s 911 director to replace retiring Renee Gordon

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — City Manager James Parajon has appointed Heather McGaffin, director of the District of Columbia’s Office of Unified Communications, to lead Alexandria’s Department of Emergency and Customer Communications.

McGaffin starts January 4, the city announced Thursday, following a national search. She succeeds Renee Gordon, who has led the department since 2015 and retires at the end of this month. The announcement did not say who will run the department in the interim.

The department handles 911, 311 and non-emergency communications for police, fire, the Sheriff’s Office and other public safety agencie,s in Alexandria.