Awards and Accreditation

American Public Works Association Accreditation

The Chesapeake Public Works Department is accredited by the American Public Works Association (APWA). In 2006, the Department became the first city in North America to be fully compliant on the first review by the APWA. Every four years, the Department must submit for re-accreditation. It was successfully re-accredited in both 2010, 2014 and 2018.

APWA Accreditation is the "Hallmark of Professionalism" among Public Works Departments throughout the United States and Canada. Chesapeake joins the exclusive list of less than 100 municipalities that have received this recognition, with only six in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Chesapeake Public Works Director Eric Martin (center, at podium) is flanked by Public Works staff members at the Jan. 8, 2019 City Council meeting, where the department was recognized by the Mayor and City Council for earning full re-accreditation through 2022.

The APWA Accreditation Program provides a means of formally verifying and recognizing public works agencies for compliance with the recommended practices set forth in the Public Works Management Practices Manual. Evaluators from APWA review over 400 practices and procedures and have determined that Chesapeake is fully compliant in each area.

The Accreditation process for the City is led by Ali Asgharpour, the Operations Manager for Streets and Highways. As the Accreditation Program Manager, he oversees the self-assessment and review of 26 individual chapters.

Several portions of Chesapeake's evaluations since 2006 have been highlighted as "model practices" to be used as examples of exemplary practices for the APWA.

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