Andy Wilson Begins Tenure as Ohio’s 52nd Attorney General
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Andy Wilson officially began serving as Ohio’s 52nd attorney general today, pledging to uphold the rule of law, support law enforcement and serve Ohioans with integrity and transparency.
Wilson was appointed to the position by Gov. Mike DeWine following the resignation of former Attorney General Dave Yost, who stepped down to join Alliance Defending Freedom as vice president of strategic research and innovation.
“I am honored by the opportunity to serve the people of Ohio in this role,” Wilson said. “Over the next seven months, my commitment is simple: work hard, be proactive and continue the mission of protecting all Ohioans.”
Wilson was sworn in over the weekend at the Clark County Common Pleas Court, where he previously served as county prosecutor.
As attorney general, Wilson will oversee an agency of roughly 1,500 employees and 30 divisions, including the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, the Health Care Fraud Section and the Crime Victim Services Section.
Wilson said his immediate priorities include protecting Ohioans, with a focus on vulnerable populations; supporting law enforcement partners across the state; and empowering the men and women of the Attorney General’s Office as they work to uphold the rights of everyday citizens.
Wilson brings more than two decades of public service experience to the office. He began his legal career in 2002 as a trial prosecutor in Clark County, where he handled cases involving sexual and physical violence against children. In 2011, he was appointed Clark County prosecutor and later won two elections to the position.
Before becoming attorney general, Wilson served as director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, overseeing nearly 4,000 employees, 10 divisions and a $2.5 billion biennial budget. He also previously served as DeWine’s senior adviser for criminal justice policy, helping lead statewide initiatives related to violent crime reduction, law enforcement training, school safety and criminal justice reform.
Wilson also assisted the Pike County Prosecutor’s Office in the prosecution of four people charged in the 2016 killings of eight members of the Rhoden, Manley and Gilley families. That work included the conviction of George Wagner IV, who was sentenced to eight consecutive life sentences without parole.
Wilson earned an undergraduate degree in political science from Wright State University and a law degree from the University of Dayton School of Law. He and his wife live in Springfield and have two adult daughters.
