Swift Appointed Dubuque Public Works Director 

Dubuque City Manager Mike Van Milligen has appointed Arielle Swift as the City’s next public works director.  She is currently the City’s assistant public works director and will succeed Public Works Director John Klostermann who will retire in October after more than 48 years with the City of Dubuque. 

“Over the years, Arielle’s contributions to our organization have proven invaluable. From the finance department to public works, she has demonstrated her ability to work with people to accomplish important goals,” said Van Milligen.  “In addition, with her military experience and her work as assistant public works director, she has demonstrated tremendous leadership skills. Arielle will continue to make an important contribution to our community and our organization in her new role as public works director.” 

As public works director, she will be responsible for the operations and performance of the City’s public works department, including maintenance of City infrastructure such as streets/traffic controls, sanitary sewers, storm sewers, flood control system, riverfront, solid waste collection, and operation of the landfill for the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) Board of Directors.  

Swift has served as assistant public works director for the City since 2019. In that role, her responsibilities included supervision of 90 personnel during daily operations, analysis of financial and operational data and subsequent report development, budget development and process improvement, and implementation of solid waste collection software.  Before joining the public works department, Swift was a member of the City’s budget and finance department from 2015 to 2020.  She began as an intern and then worked as an accountant preparing monthly and quarterly investment reports, managing grants, assisting in the preparation of the comprehensive annual financial report, and improving the City’s purchasing and accounts payable process. 

Prior to employment with the City of Dubuque, Swift served as an information systems technician in the United States Navy from 2009 to 2013.  Her key responsibilities in this role included supply cost reduction and program improvement through implementation of internal controls, supervision of 75+ personnel during onboarding, and development of classified and unclassified military messages.   

Swift holds a bachelor of arts degree in accounting and finance from Loras College and a master of science degree in business analytics from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. 

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
rgehl@cityofdubuque.org