Mike Arms began his professional career as the Senior Industrial Engineer at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), working his way through the ranks to be named Assistant to the General Manager in 1989. Arms spent 15 years with TVA. In 1992 he joined Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as Director of Systems Engineer Division and later became Vice President of Business Development. SAIC is a Fortune 500 Science and Technology company. In 2002, Arms was asked by newly elected Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale to serve as Chief of Staff.
As Chief of Staff, he has direct supervision over all Senior Directors of Knox County Government. He also is responsible for state and federal government relations, strategic planning and development policy, and economic and workforce development.
Arms holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. His training and government experience is broad. From 1995-98 Arms was Chairman of the Knox County Sheriff’s Merit Board. In 1998 he was elected to the Knox County Commission from the Fifth District and was reelected in 2002. He is a certified Public Administrator from the University of Tennessee. He also has completed Harvard University’s Mediation Program of Study..
Arms is a lifetime member of the Optimist Club of America and was the District Administrator for the Pellissippi District Boy Scouts of America. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Arts Council of Greater Knoxville, Junior Achievement of East Tennessee, and President’s Associates at Pellissippi State Community College. He currently serves on the Boards of Technology 2020, WUOT 91.1 FM, Association of Tennessee Valley Governments, East Tennessee Economic Council, Valley Corridor Summit, American Museum of Science and Energy, and Chairs the Regional Clean Air Coalition.
Arms is a native of Knox County and is an active member of Church Street United Methodist Church. His wife, Kim, works for the University of Tennessee. His son, Garrett, is a graduate student at the University of Tennessee.
