Benson Hires New Town Manager

BENSON – The Benson Board of Commissioners has hired Dane D. Rideout as the town’s next manager, selecting him last Thursday during a work session after a months-long recruitment process.

The board worked with an independent government-recruiting firm to conduct the search, aided by Central Pines Regional Council, which narrowed a large pool of applicants to two finalists before commissioners chose Rideout to lead the town.

Mayor Max Raynor said Rideout’s background made him stand out.

“We felt that Mr. Rideout was a great fit for Benson not only because of his military background, but for his extensive experience in dealing with people, local businesses, and corporations — he knows how things work and we’re confident he will manage Benson’s growth with the utmost professionalism,” Raynor said.

Rideout brings more than three decades of military service and more than 10 years of municipal management to the role, including experience in executive leadership, strategic planning and organizational transformation. He previously served as city manager of Bluefield, West Virginia, and most recently as town manager of Elizabethtown, North Carolina. In those roles, he led multimillion-dollar economic development projects, strengthened financial systems, expanded grant funding and delivered major infrastructure and community improvements.

Before entering local government, Rideout retired from the U.S. Army as a colonel in 2014. His aviation and human resources career included senior leadership assignments around the world and multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. From 2007 to 2012, he served as the principal human resources officer at Fort Bragg, overseeing military, civilian and family personnel programs for the 82nd Airborne Division and U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

In 2012, he became commander of the U.S. Army Garrison at West Point, home of the U.S. Military Academy, where he managed installation operations supporting more than 14,000 personnel and a regional retiree population of more than 149,000. His responsibilities included facilities, new construction, public works, emergency services and community programs — experience he says directly influences his current approach to local government.

After retiring from the military, Rideout spent seven years as Bluefield’s city manager, leading revitalization and modernization efforts. In 2021, he became town manager of Elizabethtown, serving more than four years before departing in June 2025.

Rideout said Benson’s combination of small-town character and growing economic opportunity — including the recently announced $1 billion Vulcan-Elements rare earth magnet manufacturing facility — played a major role in his decision to join the community.

“Benson has a remarkable combination of character, culture, and capacity,” Rideout said. “This community has the small-town charm people cherish, yet it stands at the threshold of extraordinary opportunity. … My goal is to work collaboratively with our staff, elected officials, and partners to ensure we harness that potential in a way that strengthens the community we all love.”

The board on Thursday approved Rideout’s three-year contract, which includes an annual salary of $140,000. His first day was Monday. He succeeds interim town manager Steve Harrell, who had served since June during the recruitment process and former town manager Kim Pickett who accepted a job July 1, 2025 as Smithfield’s assistant town manager.