Former Henrico official retiring from Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority
Former Henrico County Deputy County Manager for Public Safety Tony McDowell will step down as executive director of the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority this fall, prompting a leadership transition at the state agency responsible for overseeing Virginia’s use of opioid settlement funds.
McDowell, who also previously served as the Henrico Fire chief, will retire as executive director effective Oct. 31. Cecil “Charlie” Lintecum, the authority’s director of operations, will succeed him Nov. 1, while Director of Finance J. Adam Rosatelli will become deputy executive director.
The authority’s board announced the appointments as part of McDowell’s retirement.
“Tony McDowell’s leadership helped establish the Authority as a trusted steward of opioid settlement funds and a partner to communities across the commonwealth,” said state Sen. Todd Pillion, chairman of the authority’s board of directors.
Pillion said Lintecum and Rosatelli have played significant roles in developing the authority’s operations, financial infrastructure and grant programs and that their promotions would provide continuity as the organization continues its work addressing the opioid epidemic.
The Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority was established as an independent state body governed by an 11-member board. It distributes funding from the Opioid Abatement Fund to programs designed to prevent and reduce opioid misuse, treat opioid use disorder and support recovery efforts throughout Virginia.
McDowell became the authority’s first executive director after a career in public safety that included serving as Henrico County’s fire chief.
Both of his successors also have ties to Henrico County.
Lintecum previously served as administrator of the Henrico Health District and Three Rivers Health District for the Virginia Department of Health. In those positions, he was responsible for areas including finance, budgeting, grants management, procurement, human resources, facilities, contracts and strategic planning.
He has more than 23 years of state government experience in public health and public safety and joined the Opioid Abatement Authority as director of operations in October 2022. Before that, he served as budget operations manager for the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, where his responsibilities included oversight of medical and administrative Medicaid budgets totaling more than $15 billion.
Lintecum holds a Master of Public Administration degree and is a Certified Fraud Examiner.
“I am honored to serve as the next Executive Director and to continue and expand upon the foundation Tony McDowell has led us to today,” Lintecum said. “The work ahead requires strong stewardship, collaboration across multiple sectors and continued focus on measurable results for Virginians, families, and communities affected by opioid use disorder.”
Rosatelli also has Henrico government experience, having previously worked as a senior budget and management analyst for the county. In that position, he helped prepare and administer Henrico’s annual fiscal plan and capital budget.
He later spent seven years as a legislative fiscal analyst for the Virginia Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee before joining the Opioid Abatement Authority as director of finance in October 2022.
Rosatelli has 20 years of local and state government finance experience.
“I appreciate the opportunity to serve the Authority in this new capacity and to continue advancing the responsible, transparent and effective use of opioid settlement funds,” Rosatelli said.
As executive director and deputy executive director, respectively, Lintecum and Rosatelli will work with the authority’s board and staff as well as local governments, state agencies, nonprofits, community organizations and service providers to administer opioid settlement funding and strengthen accountability and transparency surrounding those investments.
