PROVIDENCE – A North Smithfield resident who has held various senior roles for the City of Providence, and also led his town’s school board for nearly a decade, has been named chief of staff for the Rhode Island Department of Administration.
James Lombardi will serve in the role as a top-level strategist, advisor, and operational manager under acting DOA Director Thomas Verdi.
An attorney and certified public accountant, Lombardi spent 24 years working for the City of Providence, serving as internal auditor, city treasurer, chief of staff to two city council presidents and then senior advisor to the City Council. He retired from the city in 2023 and was nominated to serve on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island Transit Authority in 2024.
Lombardi has also led the Rhode Island Board of Accountancy, and spent two terms as chairman of the North Smithfield School Committee.
Announcing the appointment this week, Verdi noted Lombardi brings “a wealth of legal and financial expertise” to the new role.
“A committed public servant, he has held leadership positions on several boards,” noted Verdi. “Early in his career, he was a field agent for the Internal Revenue Service while attending law school.”
Outside the public sector, Lombardi served for 11 years as pro-bono executive director of the non-profit Rhode Island Tax Clinic, Inc., which represents low income taxpayers before the IRS.
“Additionally, Jim was the founding treasurer for the Rhode Island Oral Health Foundation, a non-profit that delivers free dental clinics to individuals without access to dental care,” Verdi noted.
Lombardi is also non-combat veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves.
“With his extensive experience in both law and accounting, and his proven dedication to serving the people of Rhode Island, he is exceptionally well qualified for the role of DOA Chief of Staff,” said Verdi.
