About Charlie Hensley
An Oak Ridge resident for 54 years, Charlie retired from the Y-12 National Security Complex in 1997 and Oak Ridge Tool and Engineering in 2006, served on the Oak Ridge City Council from 2007 - 2016 and 2022-2026, as well as the Planning Commission for 20+ years.
Among the accomplishments of which he is most proud, is the creation of a Retail Development Specialist position on City staff, which contributed significantly to the completion of projects including Kroger Marketplace, Aubreys, Aldi’s Market, the evolving and successful Main Street Project, the revitalization of Jackson Square, and the filling of empty spaces like Hobby Lobby into the former Kroger building, just to name a few.
Charlie's roles in Oak Ridge include:
- Planning Commission 27 years
- City Council 13 years
- Lifetime Honorary Member Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors
- Member, League of Women Voters
- Member, Rotary Club of Oak Ridge
- Charter member, Land Bank Board of Directors
Charlie annually supports:
- Emory Valley Center
- Children's Museum
- Oak Ridge Historic Preservation
- Free Medical Clinic
- Oak Ridge Playhouse
- Child Advocacy Center of Anderson Co.
- Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties
- Habitat for Humanity
- TN Citizens for Wilderness Planning
- Advocates for the Oak Ridge Reservation
In his free time, Charlie enjoys human-powered sports such as bicycling, kayaking, and hiking in the beautiful greenspace in Oak Ridge. He is also a licensed pilot.
