COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Clark County Prosecutor and state public safety director Andy Wilson officially took office today as Ohio’s 52nd attorney general, stepping into the role with a pledge to prioritize community safety, transparency, and the protection of vulnerable populations.
Wilson was sworn in over the weekend at the Clark County Common Pleas Court—the very jurisdiction where he spent years serving as the elected county prosecutor.
He takes the reins of the state’s top law enforcement agency following the resignation of former Attorney General Dave Yost, who stepped down to join the Alliance Defending Freedom as its vice president of strategic research and innovation. Governor Mike DeWine tapped Wilson to serve out the remaining seven months of Yost’s term.
“I am honored by the opportunity to serve the people of Ohio in this role,” Wilson said in a statement. “Over the next seven months, my commitment is simple: work hard, be proactive and continue the mission of protecting all Ohioans.”
Managing a Massive State Agency
As attorney general, Wilson will oversee an sprawling agency consisting of roughly 1,500 employees across 30 distinct divisions. This includes managing vital state resources such as:
- The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)
- The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA)
- The Health Care Fraud Section
- The Crime Victim Services Section
Immediate Priorities Outlined
With a limited seven-month tenure ahead of him, Wilson outlined three immediate pillars for his administration:
- Vulnerable Populations: Focusing heavily on protecting and serving everyday Ohioans, with a particular emphasis on the state’s most vulnerable citizens.
- Law Enforcement Support: Actively promoting and assisting local and state law enforcement partners operating on the front lines of community safety.
- Internal Empowerment: Supporting and empowering the career staff within the Attorney General’s Office to uphold the rights of citizens.
A Career in Public Service
Wilson brings more than two decades of public-service and legal experience to the position. After graduating from the University of Dayton’s School of Law, he began his career in the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office. He eventually won election as the county’s top prosecutor, earning a reputation for leading efforts to support crime victims and prosecuting major criminal cases.
Prior to his appointment as attorney general, Wilson directed the Ohio Department of Public Safety, where he managed nearly 4,000 employees across ten divisions. He also previously served as Governor DeWine’s senior adviser for criminal justice policy, a role in which he helped spearhead statewide initiatives on violent crime reduction, school safety, law enforcement training, and criminal justice reform.
