Published on January 26, 2026
WINCHESTER, Va – The Winchester City Council has appointed John Piper as City Manager, effective January 26, 2026.
Mayor Les Veach and Council President Corey Sullivan stated, " After interviewing some very highly qualified candidates, we are excited to name John Piper as our City Manager. John stood out for his strong leadership, dedication to public service, and deep community knowledge. We congratulate John and look forward to working with him to serve our residents."
“I am honored that the City Council has selected me to serve as Winchester’s City Manager,” said Mr. Piper. “Winchester has a long and important history, and I have seen firsthand the exceptional work our staff does every day to serve this community. I look forward to continuing to work alongside our employees, the City Council, and our residents to build on that legacy and achieve great things for the city.”
Mr. Piper currently serves as Winchester’s Interim City Manager and previously served as Deputy City Manager from 2022 to 2025, during which he oversaw the City’s public health and safety operations, including the Police Department, Fire and Rescue, Emergency Management, and Social Services. Prior to his appointment as Deputy City Manager, he served as Winchester’s Chief of Police from 2017 to 2022.
Before joining the City of Winchester, Mr. Piper spent 24 years with the Fairfax County Police Department, where he served in a variety of executive-level leadership positions. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for managing complex organizations, overseeing large budgets, leading diverse teams, and working closely with elected officials, community partners, and regional stakeholders.
Mr. Piper holds a Bachelor of Science degree from George Mason University and a Key Executive Leadership Graduate Certificate from American University. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Policing through the Police Executive Research Forum.
A resident of Winchester since 2017, Mr. Piper lives in the city with his wife, Jennifer. He has three adult children and was born and raised in Prince William County, Virginia. He is committed to collaborative leadership, fiscal responsibility, and providing high-quality, responsive services to the Winchester community.
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