The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved Jason Autrey as the new Deputy County Administrator for Development Services on April 1.
- The newly established position, approved by commissioners in February as part of an organizational restructuring, will oversee the county’s Growth Management, Public Works, and Water and Sewer departments.
Autrey has served with the county for two decades, including the past decade as Public Works Director. In this role, he has managed various functions including engineering, road maintenance, fleet operations, surveying, mosquito control, solid waste, environmental services, traffic operations, and capital improvements.
“I can’t say enough about Mr. Autrey. I don’t even know what our county would be like without you,” said Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel on Tuesday morning. “You’re just always available. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the weekend or the weekday. You’ve always answered my questions so thoroughly, and you have a great team behind you.”
The restructuring aims to enhance internal efficiencies by consolidating oversight of three departments critical to development and infrastructure.
- “I think what this is really going to do is give an opportunity to try to pull together three different departments that are all critical when it comes to development, land use permitting, things of that nature,” Commissioner Trey Goodwin said. “I think you’ve got an excellent opportunity to work on streamlining processes and making things more efficient.”
County Administrator John Hofstad, who appointed Autrey as Public Works Director in 2014, expressed confidence in the selection.
“One of the greatest joys of my almost 40 years in local government is being able to find talent within an organization and elevate that talent where they can succeed. This is one of those examples,” Hofstad said.
Autrey, a University of Florida graduate with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, is a state-certified professional engineer and certified public manager. Before joining the county, he worked in the private sector as an engineer specializing in development services.
- “I do want to thank you all, the commissioners, for all the support. I do want to be available, not just for you, but for the citizens,” Autrey said after the approval. “I’m just a guy that shows up with great people around him. I’m so fortunate and blessed to have that and I appreciate this and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to serve the county.”
The appointment took effect immediately following the board’s approval.
