By Reynolds Hutchins
reynolds.hutchins@insidebiz.com
Norfolk’s director of veteran services has parted ways with the city, according to city spokespeople.
After 2½ years, Capt. John Andrews left employment with the city of Norfolk Monday for unknown reasons.
The retired Navy officer joined the city in 2012 as a military liaison. He was assigned special assistant to Norfolk City Manager Marcus Jones and tasked with growing the city’s active-duty and veteran military presence.
Andrews’ exit was made public in an short announcement from city spokespeople late Monday evening. No reason was given for the sudden and unexpected departure.
“He’s just no longer with the city and that’s all we’re saying right now,” city spokeswoman Lori Crouch said.
Crouch said city officials made the decision Monday. Up until that point, there had been no apparent signs Andrews would be leaving the city’s employment.
In an interview with Inside Business as recent as three weeks ago, Andrews said he was proud of his work with Norfolk and city staff. He even went so far as to touch on his own job security, thanking the city for keeping him on when other cities were cutting similar positions during tight economic times.
“I’ve been very lucky,” Andrews said.
When Andrews came onboard in 2012, much was made of his nearly $100,000-a-year salary.
That dollar figure made Andrews one of the city’s highest paid employees and the public outcry landed him on the front page of The Virginian-Pilot.
The city defended Andrews’ position and he stayed on.
His contemporaries in other cities weren’t as lucky.
A year ago, when the city of Portsmouth wanted to pay a consultant to help grow its Coast Guard presence, the city agreed to pay retired Rear Adm. Wayne E. Justice $130 an hour. But the public backlash proved too much and Justice resigned.
Virginia Beach, too, had a military liaison on staff, but the job was cut from the budget in the midst of the recession. Sali Gear, a retired Navy pilot, was paid $2,500 a month, according to city officials.
Norfolk officials routinely praised Andrews' work.
Under Andrews direction, the city hired more than 200 veterans and maintained a 96 percent retention rate for those veterans hired. For three years running, Norfolk has also been awarded the top certification from the Virginia Values Veterans program, a statewide veteran employment initiative.
Andrews was not available for comment Monday night.
According to Crouch, Deputy City Manager Peter Chapman, who was hired last month, will take over veteran workforce development in the wake of Andrews' departure.
Assistant to the city manager Joe Howell will assume all other duties assigned to Andrews.