The Marine Who is Leading One of America’s Largest Cities

Robert M. Dyer, Mayor, Virginia Beach (Virginia)Mayor Bobby Dyer was sworn in on Nov. 20, 2018, and is the first veteran to be directly elected as mayor in Virginia Beach history. Prior to that, he represented the Centerville District on the City Council for 14 years.Dyer is a physical therapist. Positions he's held in the past include healthcare executive, business consultant, and assistant professor in the School of Government at Regent University. Dyer served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1972. In 1976, he earned a bachelor's degree in physical therapy from Saint Louis University and in 1982, a master's in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He earned his Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Regent University in 2001.He currently serves as the City Council liaison to the Bikeways and Trails Advisory Committee, the Clean Community commission, the Community Services Board, the Hampton Roads Military and Federal Facilities Alliance, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission, the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, the Human Rights Commission, the Open Space Advisory Committee, and the Process Improvement Steering Committee, which he initiated.Dyer and his wife, Trish, live in the Lake Christopher section of the Centerville District and have two children and four grandchildren.LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayor-bobby-dyer-a570361a3/Website: https://virginiabeach.gov/city-hall/mayors-office