What Is a Chief Operating Officer?

The city of Atlanta, according to Creative Loafing, has a new Chief Operating Officer in Duriya Farooqui. The current title-holder, Peter T. Aman, is leaving on 9 December. Although this admittedly doesn't make for the most sensational story, I figure that, because this is one of the city's highest offices, it needs to at least be mentioned.

I must admit, however, to not being entirely certain of what a Chief Operating Officer actually does, when I read the article.

According to city government, Atlanta's Chief Operating Officer manages, but not in an absolute monarchial sense, many departments, among them Aviation, Fire, Police, Human Resources, Planning and Community Development, and Public Works. The COO is also, apparently, the person to question regarding high-profile city government resignations, as well as the criminal activity of Atlanta Public Schools; it would seem that the holder of the post functions as a page, when a sock is hanging from the mayor's doorknob.

Who, then, is Duriya Farooqui? Before moving to Atlanta, she worked for the World Bank, the Center for Global Development, and the Center for International Development at Harvard University. In the administration of Shirley Franklin, she was director of the Office of Program Management, which this linguistics major can only describe as an agency with the stated intents of streamlining the city's operations, refining its public relations, and overseeing the reporting of the city's use of federal stimulus money. Currently, she manages ATLSTAT (find the typo on the main page!) and the Atlanta Streetcar Project, which is now quite noticeably under construction on Marietta Street and will run this route beginning, if nothing goes wrong, in 2013. She is also overseeing hiring for Atlanta's non-emergency 311 call center, which will open at a now-unknown date.

I know essentially nothing about the job Mrs. Farooqui is set to take. My plea to her is therefore of the least specific nature. Communicate well, and as often as time itself will allow, with other city departments. Attempt to know the city you serve firsthand, beyond your region of immediate familiarity, so as to learn exactly where city government can exact the most positive changes. Remember that Atlanta, though not the worst of American cities in which to live, is heavily suffering in matters of safety, cost of living and general upkeep. We're counting on you to deliver for us, and given your vast professional experience well beyond this city of 423,000, I have faith in you.