Bob Ross

First Selectman, Town of Salem

As a naval officer, Bob Ross advised senior defense officials on public policy and served as a spokesman for national issues at the Pentagon.  He served in operations Desert Storm, Uphold Democracy, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.  In his final assignment, he was the Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Sixth Fleet. Following his “early” retirement, he decided to pursue a second career in municipal government. In preparation, he completed a “mid-career” UCONN MPA. In 2006, he served as Emergency Communication Director, City of Cripple Creek, Colorado.  In less than a year, he was promoted to City Administrator, supervising 18 departments in a city with a 3-billion-dollar economy.  In 2007, he returned to Connecticut and was elected First Selectman, Town of Salem.  Today, his focus is on the economic development of a 30-square-mile rural township.  Under his leadership, the Town of Salem is integrating the seemingly incompatible goals of rural conservation and generation of local revenue to sustain the highest quality of life and public services in southeastern Connecticut.

Jason Jakubowski and Bob Ross at the 2008 Awards Night