Michael C. Van Milligen has served as City Manager for the City of Dubuque since January of 1993. Van Milligen served as the assistant village manager for the City of Skokie, Ill., from May 1987 to January 1993, and assistant to the village manager from September 1986 to May 1987. Prior to that, he worked in law enforcement, including serving as a police officer from 1977 to 1984 in Carbondale, Illinois. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Fire Science Management and Administration of Justice from Southern Illinois University, where he earned a master’s degree in Public Affairs. Additionally, he completed the Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government and the Kellogg Management Institute at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, described as “The Essence of an MBA.” He recently completed the U.S. Army War College National Security Seminar.

Van Milligen currently serves as a Regional Vice President of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). In 2003, Van Milligen was named the Outstanding Manager of the Year by the ICMA. This award recognizes a local government administrator who has initiated and implemented creative, innovative projects and programs in the management of his or her community. In 2004, he was featured as part of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government “Innovators in Public Service” Series.

Van Milligen served as the 2005-2006 president of the Iowa City/County Management Association. While working in Illinois, he served as president of the Illinois Association of Municipal Management Assistants. In June 2007, Dubuque was named one of 10 communities to earn the 2007 All-America City (AAC) award by the National Civic League. Often referred to as "the Nobel Prize of civic engagement," it is the oldest and most prestigious civic recognition competition in the nation. The winners were selected in part for their ability to engage a broad cross section of the community, including youth, business leaders, elected officials, city staff and nonprofit groups in civic dialogues leading to tangible results.

Van Milligen was named Manager of the Year in September 2007 by the Iowa City/County Management Association. This annual award honors chief administrators whose accomplishments and superior work performance represent the best possible application of management principles and whose creative contributions to professional local government management increases public awareness of the value of professional management to the quality of life in Iowa communities. He was also awarded the 2009 Joe Lukehart Service Award by the Iowa City/County Management Association. The award is presented to individuals who have promoted or enhanced the city/county management profession in Iowa, and who have made outstanding contributions to the Iowa City/County Management Association. Additionally, the award is given to individuals responsible for promoting the professional development of the IaCMA.

In 2009, Van Milligen was named Public Executive of the Year by the Novogradac Community Development Foundation. The annual award is given to an executive who has had a particularly strong impact in the field of community development or has assisted substantially in the advancement of community development, policy agenda, and legislative priorities.