Andy Wilson begins tenure as Ohio attorney general

COLUMBUS — Andy Wilson began serving as Ohio’s 52nd attorney general today, pledging to uphold the rule of law, support law enforcement and serve the people of Ohio with integrity and transparency.

“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 the county prosecutor.

As attorney general, he will oversee an agency consisting of roughly 1,500 employees and 30 divisions, including the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy, Health Care Fraud Section, Crime Victim Services Section and others.

Among Wilson’s immediate priorities are to:

• Protect and serve Ohioans, focusing particularly on vulnerable populations.

• Promote and assist the office’s law enforcement partners who are on the state’s front lines keeping our families, our friends and our communities safe.

• Support and empower the men and women of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in their dedication to upholding the rights of everyday citizens.

Wilson was tapped for the position by Gov. Mike DeWine after former Attorney General Dave Yost resigned to join the Alliance Defending Freedom as its vice president of strategic research and innovation.

Wilson brings more than two decades of public-service experience to the office. After graduating from the University of Dayton’s School of Law, he began his legal career as a prosecutor in Clark County, later serving as the elected county prosecutor and leading efforts to support crime victims, improve public safety and prosecute major criminal cases.

Most recently, Wilson directed the Ohio Department of Public Safety, overseeing nearly 4,000 employees and ten divisions. Before that, he was DeWine’s senior adviser for criminal justice policy, helping lead statewide initiatives on violent crime reduction, law enforcement training, school safety and criminal justice reform.