Van de Vate began his career in 1984 as a Detention Officer at the Knox County Jail. In 1991, newly-elected Sheriff Tim Hutchison appointed him Public Information Officer. In 1995, he was promoted to Director of Planning and Development for the Sheriff's Office, where he focused on strategic planning and applied computer technologies. In 1997, he was named Chief Deputy, second-in-command to the Sheriff, and was responsible for the daily administrative oversight of the department's 1,000+ employees and its $50 million budget.
In October 2004, Van de Vate was recruited to the office of County Mayor Mike Ragsdale to serve as Senior Director of Communications and Government Relations. Van de Vate oversees all external communications from the Executive Branch of Knox County Government, dealing with state and local media. Following a 2007 reorganization of the Mayor's executive staff, Van de Vate was named Chief Administrative Officer. In his new capacity, he oversees the departments of Information Technology, Engineering and Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Neighborhoods and Outreach in addition to the responsibilities he previously held as Senior Director of Communications. Van de Vate's knowledge of county government and 20 years experience in law enforcement give him invaluable insight as he advises the Mayor on policy and strategy.
Van de Vate received a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice in 1984 from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He serves on the board of the Knox County Housing Authority, the Juvenile Court Advisory Board, and he is Chairman of the Knox County Employees Credit Union Board of Directors. He is a graduate of the 2007 class of Leadership Knoxville, the 2004 Community Leadership class of CAC and the Rural Metro Citizen's Academy.
Van de Vate lives in Powell with his wife Tracy and their three children.
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