Dana L. McDaniel became the City of Dublin’s fifth city manager on January 31, 2015. As city manager, he serves as the chief administrative and law enforcement officer and is responsible to City Council for the day-to-day operations of the City. McDaniel has been employed by the City for 30 years. He has served in various roles, including management assistant to the city manager, director of service, deputy city manager/director of economic development and director of development. Prior to starting his career in Dublin, he served as an intern in both the Cities of Lebanon and Gahanna, Ohio.
McDaniel served with the City of Dublin during a time of rapid growth and expansion. As the City’s first director of service, he led the establishment of a service department that was one of only nine in North America to be accredited by the American Public Works Association.
McDaniel was instrumental in the development of Dublink, Dublin’s state-of-the-art broadband fiber-optic network. He is co-founder of the Central Ohio Research Network and helped create the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, which currently houses more than 50 start-up companies. McDaniel oversaw the expansion of economic development programming resulting in the attraction, retention, and expansion of more than 14,000 jobs.
Under his leadership, the City was twice named a Top 7 Intelligent City in the world by the New York-based Intelligent Community Forum and also received numerous awards from the International Economic Development Council, the Ohio Economic Development Association, and the Mid-America Economic Development Association.
In 2018, McDaniel was recognized by the Asian-American Commerce Group as the Government Leader of the Year for his efforts in increasing the visibility of Asian-Americans. McDaniel also received the 2018 C-Suite award from Columbus Business First as one of the most admired executives in Columbus in the category of institutions. This award acknowledged McDaniel among the region’s most-accomplished business leaders, “inspiring and encouraging others in the community with his integrity and excellence”.
In 2016, he was recognized by the Ohio State University Alumni Association for Outstanding Public Service. Five years earlier, he was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award from The Ohio State University John Glenn School of Public Affairs. In 2013, McDaniel was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Intelligent Community Forum. The Dublin Chamber of Commerce recognized him with its President’s Award in 2014 for his dedication to the Dublin Chamber and its business community.
McDaniel earned his bachelor’s degree in public administration from Miami University of Ohio and his master’s in public administration from The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs. McDaniel also received a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.
McDaniel currently serves on several regional and local boards, including the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s (MORPC) Transportation and Policy Committee, Development Advisory Committee of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency, Ohio City/County Management Association, the Central Ohio Mayors and Managers Association, and Dublin Chamber of Commerce. He recently chaired MORPC’s Smart Region Task Force and is currently Chair of the US33 Corridor Council of Governments.
He retired from the Ohio National Guard following a 35-year distinguished career. McDaniel enlisted as a Private/E1, rising to the rank of Brigadier General. McDaniel served in numerous command and staff positions from platoon to division levels. He is an Iraq war veteran.
He and his wife Lisa Patt-McDaniel are Dublin residents and the parents of two daughters, Caitlyn and Colleen.
Dana L. McDaniel became the City of Dublin’s fifth city manager on January 31, 2015. As city manager, he serves as the chief administrative and law enforcement officer and is responsible to City Council for the day-to-day operations of the City. McDaniel has been employed by the City for 30 years. He has served in various roles, including management assistant to the city manager, director of service, deputy city manager/director of economic development and director of development. Prior to starting his career in Dublin, he served as an intern in both the Cities of Lebanon and Gahanna, Ohio.
McDaniel served with the City of Dublin during a time of rapid growth and expansion. As the City’s first director of service, he led the establishment of a service department that was one of only nine in North America to be accredited by the American Public Works Association.
McDaniel was instrumental in the development of Dublink, Dublin’s state-of-the-art broadband fiber-optic network. He is co-founder of the Central Ohio Research Network and helped create the Dublin Entrepreneurial Center, which currently houses more than 50 start-up companies. McDaniel oversaw the expansion of economic development programming resulting in the attraction, retention, and expansion of more than 14,000 jobs.
Under his leadership, the City was twice named a Top 7 Intelligent City in the world by the New York-based Intelligent Community Forum and also received numerous awards from the International Economic Development Council, the Ohio Economic Development Association, and the Mid-America Economic Development Association.
In 2018, McDaniel was recognized by the Asian-American Commerce Group as the Government Leader of the Year for his efforts in increasing the visibility of Asian-Americans. McDaniel also received the 2018 C-Suite award from Columbus Business First as one of the most admired executives in Columbus in the category of institutions. This award acknowledged McDaniel among the region’s most-accomplished business leaders, “inspiring and encouraging others in the community with his integrity and excellence”.
In 2016, he was recognized by the Ohio State University Alumni Association for Outstanding Public Service. Five years earlier, he was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award from The Ohio State University John Glenn School of Public Affairs. In 2013, McDaniel was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the Intelligent Community Forum. The Dublin Chamber of Commerce recognized him with its President’s Award in 2014 for his dedication to the Dublin Chamber and its business community.
McDaniel earned his bachelor’s degree in public administration from Miami University of Ohio and his master’s in public administration from The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs. McDaniel also received a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College.
McDaniel currently serves on several regional and local boards, including the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s (MORPC) Transportation and Policy Committee, Development Advisory Committee of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District, Franklin County Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency, Ohio City/County Management Association, the Central Ohio Mayors and Managers Association, and Dublin Chamber of Commerce. He recently chaired MORPC’s Smart Region Task Force and is currently Chair of the US33 Corridor Council of Governments.
He retired from the Ohio National Guard following a 35-year distinguished career. McDaniel enlisted as a Private/E1, rising to the rank of Brigadier General. McDaniel served in numerous command and staff positions from platoon to division levels. He is an Iraq war veteran.
He and his wife Lisa Patt-McDaniel are Dublin residents and the parents of two daughters, Caitlyn and Colleen.