County Manager Amy Cannon announced today that she has hired a new Human Resources Director. Anthony W. Wade, PhD, will assume the role on June 14, bringing more than 30 years of applied experience with organizational leaders to align progressive programs and services with organizational goals, needs and objectives.
Prior to assuming his role as the County’s chief human resource officer, Dr. Wade has been the Human Relations Director for the City of Fayetteville and Cumberland County. His previous leadership roles include, but are not limited to, serving as an Executive Human Resources Director for the Dallas County Community College District in Texas and the Manager of Employment, Compensation, Equal Opportunity and Community Outreach for Denver Water in Colorado.
“Dr. Wade brings extensive experience and an impressive resume in human resources. After conducting an extensive search, Cumberland County has found the right person to serve in this important role,” Cannon said.
An honorably retired U.S. Air Force veteran, Dr. Wade also led installation-wide diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and services as a Base Director of Equal Opportunity Treatment and Human Relations Education. His area of responsibility included an Air Force technical training center with a population of more than 10,000 individuals, including domestic and international students as well as civilian and military employees. Additionally, Dr. Wade’s work with the military has been recognized by the U.S. Air Force, as well as the U.S. Army’s 71st Ordnance Group and 82nd Airborne Division.
In academia, Dr. Wade is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Graduate Studies in Human Resources with Webster University. A life-member and a former regional vice-president of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR), he was also a founding member of the NAAAHR-Colorado State Chapter and its first president. Other professional service roles include, but are not limited to, a former President of the National Association of Human Rights Workers (NAHRW) and past Program Chair and Board Member for LEADERSHIP North Carolina.
Dr. Wade earned a PhD in Education and Human Resource Studies with a specialization in Organizational Performance and Change from Colorado State University at Fort Collins, a master’s degree in Management from Webster University and a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Administration from Saint Leo University. He is also a graduate of the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, the Advanced Practitioner in Mediation (APM) Program from the Institute of Advanced Dispute Resolution, and Cornell University’s Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program.
Dr. Wade holds national certifications from the Human Resources Certification Institute (Professional in Human Resources [PHR]) and the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM-Certified Professional [SHRM-CP]).