DC Housing Authority Board Appointed New Executive Director
The appointment of Nicole Wickliffe signals a leadership transition for the agency managing public housing resources in Washington.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in People
Live Poll
Do you trust your local housing authority to effectively manage affordable housing programs in your area?
The District of Columbia Housing Authority board unanimously appointed Nicole Wickliffe as executive director. Wickliffe, who had been serving in the role on an interim basis since April 2026, officially assumed the position on October 1, 2026.
Why it matters
The appointment provides formal, long-term leadership for a primary agency overseeing public housing and development initiatives in the District. Her confirmation ends the transition period following the departure of former director Keith Pettigrew.
The District of Columbia Housing Authority board confirmed the appointment through a unanimous vote on September 16. This shift replaces the interim leadership model that had been in place since March 2026.
The players
Nicole Wickliffe
The newly appointed executive director of the DCHA who previously served as deputy executive director for both the DCHA and the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Keith Pettigrew
The former executive director of the DCHA who departed in March 2026 to serve as the CEO of the Chicago Housing Authority.
District of Columbia Housing Authority
A public agency responsible for the administration of housing programs and development projects throughout Washington.
The details
Nicole Wickliffe stepped into the executive director role after serving as deputy executive director, a position she held since late 2023. Her career path includes prior experience as the deputy director for the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority. This move follows the departure of former executive director Keith Pettigrew, who left the agency in March 2026 to lead the Chicago Housing Authority.
Timeline
Late 2023: Nicole Wickliffe joined the DCHA as deputy executive director.
March 2026: Keith Pettigrew departed the agency for a role in Chicago.
April 2026: Nicole Wickliffe assumed the role of interim executive director.
September 16, 2026: The DCHA board voted unanimously to confirm Wickliffe.
October 1, 2026: Wickliffe began her permanent tenure as executive director.
Market Landscape
This appointment marks the formal conclusion of the leadership transition triggered by the departure of Keith Pettigrew earlier this year. It positions the agency under permanent leadership as it navigates its current development and housing management mandate in the District.
Operators in the housing and development sectors should monitor the new director's public policy priorities and upcoming procurement cycles. Establishing a contact point within the agency now may be useful for firms tracking potential shifts in contracting or development partnerships.
The takeaway
Leadership stability is a critical signal for vendors and developers engaging with public housing authorities. Business owners should review current agency project dockets to understand if the transition to permanent leadership impacts ongoing or future procurement timelines.
Further reading
For more on shifts in local organizational leadership, see People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bisnow.
Live Poll
Do you trust your local housing authority to effectively manage affordable housing programs in your area?
