Nationally recognized for his crisis management, Walt Maddox leads initiatives to increase economic development through data-driven models, improve customer service with the implementation of Tuscaloosa 311 and provide quality pre-k education for academically at-risk four-year-old children.

On May 17, 2021, Maddox was sworn in for his fifth term as Tuscaloosa’s 36th mayor. He currently serves as a senior fellow with the Program on Crisis Leadership at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. In 2012, Mayor Maddox was named Municipal Leader of the Year by American City and County (the publication for state and local governments) for his strong, decisive and comforting leadership following the April 27, 2011 tornado.  

Mayor Maddox is a Tuscaloosa native and graduated from Central High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degree in public administration from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. While at UAB, Mayor Maddox was a four-year letter-winner on the football team.

He is married to Stephanie Roberts Maddox and has two children. His favorite hobby is running, and he has completed several marathons and half-marathons.