Los Alamos County names Dave Krueger as new public information officer

Los Alamos County announced the hiring of Dave Krueger as its new public information officer, with Krueger accepting the position Jan. 17 and set to join county staff on Feb. 2. The change comes as longtime county communications lead Julie Williams-Hill prepares to depart Feb. 13 after a 24-year career with the county and four years as public information officer.

County Manager Anne Laurent welcomed the hire, saying, "I am excited to have Dave join our team. His experience in communication and public engagement will be a great asset as we continue to strengthen how we share information with our community."

Krueger brings more than two decades of experience in communications, graphic design, website and digital media development, and tourism. He most recently served as chief of interpretation, education and volunteers and public information officer for Valles Caldera National Preserve. His National Park Service assignments have included Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Wright Brothers National Memorial, Fort Raleigh National Historical Park, and Yellowstone National Park. Krueger moved to Los Alamos in November 2021 and lives in the Aspen area with his wife, daughter, dog and cat.

The personnel change creates an 11-day overlap between Krueger's start and Williams-Hill's final day, providing a window for knowledge transfer on ongoing initiatives, routine emergency procedures and public-facing channels. For county operations, continuity in the public information officer role is central to timely emergency alerts, public meeting notices, permitting updates and outreach around county services - functions that directly affect residents' safety and access to government.

Krueger's background in interpretation and visitor engagement signals a possible emphasis on clearer public-facing messaging and expanded digital outreach. Those skills can be relevant to Los Alamos' efforts to communicate complex issues, from roadway projects and utility notices to emergency preparedness and event information tied to tourism and public lands.

Williams-Hill's 24 years with the county represent substantial institutional memory; her departure will require deliberate transfer of contacts, protocols and historical context. The county has positioned the transition so incoming leadership can maintain "clear, accessible, and timely communications" as staff manage both routine community information and responses to incidents that demand rapid public notice.

For residents, the immediate impact will be observed in the county's communications channels: alerts, website content, social media and public meeting outreach. Expect a gradual roll-in of new approaches as Krueger assumes duties Feb. 2 and works alongside Williams-Hill through Feb. 13. The county says this handover is intended to keep residents informed without interruption while allowing new leadership to refine how information reaches the community.