Leslie McLane has joined the Virginia Public Safety and Homeland Security Secretariat as Director of Communications and Strategic Projects.
McLane announced the move in a LinkedIn post, writing that while the title is new, her focus remains on “ensuring the safety and security of Virginia’s communities.”
She brings more than 14 years of federal government experience to the role, most recently with the FBI in Richmond, where she served as a Public Affairs Officer and Community Outreach Coordinator. In that position, she led media engagement and external messaging across the region, translating operational information and high-risk incidents into public-facing communications.
Her work at the FBI included developing communications plans reaching audiences of more than 1.6 million, increasing social media engagement by more than 700%, and building relationships with religious, academic, nonprofit, and community partners. She was also awarded the FBI Medal of Excellence for leadership in strategic engagement and special projects.
Earlier in her FBI career, McLane held several roles focused on executive briefings, written reporting, cross-functional coordination, and organizational communication.
McLane holds a Master of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French from James Madison University.
