Robert W. Wilson

Robert W. 'Bob' Wilson was the Fairfax County Executive from 1972 to 1976.

Wilson took his bachelor degrees in history and government from Shepherd State College in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, and graduated in 1958 from American University with an M.A. in government administration.

After serving on the faculty at American University for a few years, Wilson joined the Arlington County government in 1962 and rose to become an administrative assistant to Arlington County Manager Bert W. Johnson before coming to work for Fairfax County.

On May 8, 1972, Wilson was appointed as a deputy county executive by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Less than six months later, following the board's acceptance of the resignation of George J. Kelley, Jr., Wilson was named acting county executive, effective November 1, 1972.

Wilson was initially resistant to permanently accepting the post of county executive, but eventually changed his mind and was appointed to the post on May 29, 1973.

Wilson resigned as County Executive on December 15, 1975 to become the chief administrative officer of Prince George's County.

In 1978, Wilson became the chief administrative officer of Montgomery County. Wilson resigned from that position on January 12, 1983, with his resignation effective April 8.

Wilson became the director of public works for Prince William County on February 13, 1989 and retired from that post on February 28, 2006.