Rysheda McClendon

Rysheda McClendon is the County Attorney for Stafford County, Virginia, a position she has held since 2018 and her local government career spans well over a decade. She has served in nearly all levels of the County Attorney’s office, first interning before becoming an Assistant, Senior Assistant, and then Deputy County Attorney.

Rysheda’s interest in leadership development for local government employees was ignited after participating in the Leading, Educating and Developing (LEAD) program in 2017. She later participated in the Virginia Institute of Goverment’s Senior Executive Institute (SEI) in 2022. Rysheda brings her same desire to teach and encourage development to her other professional and community activities, as well. She has instructed continuing legal education (CLE) courses for attorneys and served on conference planning and leadership development committees as part of the Local Government Attorneys of Virginia (LGA) association. She has also presented on leadership at religious conferences and teaches bible study at her church.

Rysheda grew up in northern Virginia, the daughter of a single-parent Army veteran. She received her undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Legal Studies, from George Mason University. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California before returning to Virginia. Recognizing the significant role that local government attorneys can play in the responsible administration of government, Rysheda pursued and earned her Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2021. By leading with integrity and heart, Rysheda desires to positively impact society, starting with her local government and community.