Chief Robert Hicks | The Florida Center for Public Management

Deputy City Manager - City of Leesburg (Retired)

10:30-11:45 Room 117
1:15-2:30 Room 117
A Work in Progress – Lessons Learned in Leadership
The journey, transition, and lessons learned from a leadership role in law enforcement to “the other side” of government service: from Chief of Police to Deputy City Manager.

Chief Rob Hicks (ret.) was recently appointed as Deputy City Manager for the City of Leesburg. He has over 30 years of progressive law enforcement experience; proudly serving the citizens of the City of Leesburg and the Leesburg Police Department for the past 28 years. He has held almost every rank and duty assignment within the department prior to being appointed Chief in 2014. He is also a proud veteran of the United States Army, having participated in several multi-national operations, including the Gulf War in Iraq and Kuwait. He is married with three adult children.
Rob holds a Masters of Business/Public Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management, and Associate of Science in Criminal Justice. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy (Session #270). Additional executive leadership education includes; the Senior Management Institute for Police from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF Session #83), the Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officers Course (Class #116) at the University of Louisville, The State of Florida’s Certified Public Manager Program and the Chief Executive Seminar (Session #49) at the Florida Criminal Justice Institute in Tallahassee. In addition to being a lifelong learner, Rob is committed to the mentoring and development of future leaders. His scholarly pursuits have afforded him the opportunity of adjunct professorship of Criminal Justice Administration and Organizational Management.

Chief Hicks served by Gubernatorial appointment as a member of the State of Florida’s Violent Crime and Drug Control Commission. As the District 14 Director and Legislative Committee Chair for the Florida Police Chief’s Association and Past President of the West Central Florida Police Chief’s Association, Chief Hicks has been involved with public safety and leadership programs throughout the State of Florida. He is now hoping to use the leadership skills developed over three decades to continue moving the City of Leesburg forward in his new capacity.