W. Michael Arms, Director

Mike Arms is Chief of Staff to Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale. As Chief of Staff, he has direct supervision over all senior directors of Knox County, Tennessee, government. He is also responsible for strategic planning and policy issues for the mayor.

Arms began his professional career at Tennessee Valley Authority, starting as the Senior Industrial Engineer and becoming Assistant to the General Manager before he left.  He then joined Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), where he was Director of the Systems Engineer Division and later, Vice President of Business Development.

Arms hold a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering and a master's in business administration from the University of Tennessee. He has served as a Knox County Commissioner from the Fifth District. He received a public administrator certification from UT, and he completed Harvard University's Mediation Program of Study.