William M. Wolfson

William M. Wolfson is Deputy Chief Executive Officer for the Great Lakes Water Authority.

Prior to assuming the Deputy Chief Executive Officer position, Mr. Wolfson has served GLWA’s as its Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer and its Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer/ General Counsel. Mr. Wolfson came to GLWA from the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD). Mr. Wolfson joined DWSD in 2012 as the utility’s first General Counsel  and, in 2013, added the position of Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer as well. Mr. Wolfson represented DWSD in the City of Detroit’s bankruptcy proceedings and played a pivotal role in the founding of GLWA.

Mr. Wolfson began his career in government, in 1976, as a seasonal Detroit Zoo employee. He later joined the City of Detroit Law Department as an attorney in 1986 and served in the Law Department until 1998, under Mayors Coleman A. Young and Dennis Archer, working as the legal liaison to the Detroit City Council and on several key initiatives such as the casino and stadium development projects.

Upon leaving the City of Detroit, Mr. Wolfson moved to Wayne County’s Department of Corporation Counsel and was appointed Deputy Corporation Counsel by County Executive Edward McNamara. The succeeding County Executive, Robert Ficano, appointed Wolfson to the position of Assistant Deputy County Executive/Director of Legal Affairs. In that position, Mr. Wolfson was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the county government and its 4,500 employees.

Mr. Wolfson retired from his Wayne County position in July 2009; he then went into private practice and contracted to serve as Wayne County’s Interim Corporation Counsel.

Mr. Wolfson is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota Law School. He is active and a committee member in several water sector trade organizations. In 2020, Mr. Wolfson was recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of its Leaders in the Law. In 2024, The State Bar of Michigan honored Mr. Wolfson as a recipient of its The Frank J. Kelley Distinguished Public Service Award which recognizes extraordinary governmental service by a member of the State Bar of Michigan.