Brandon Martin, Henry County’s public information officer since 2021, became deputy county administrator Thursday, taking on responsibilities that include helping oversee county operations and serving as assistant general manager of the Public Service Authority.
Martin, 34, will assist County Administrator Dale Wagoner in directing and coordinating county operations and work with department managers, elected officials, employees and community partners, according to a county news release.
Wagoner said Martin’s military service, education in public administration and local government experience have prepared him for the position.
“Brandon has demonstrated an ability to learn quickly, ask thoughtful questions, work across organizational boundaries and take on increasingly complex assignments,” Wagoner said.
Wagoner said succession planning and developing the next generation of county leadership are priorities.
“Brandon’s experience, his understanding of Henry County and his willingness to continue growing as a public administrator make him well prepared to take on this responsibility,” he said.
As public information officer, Martin worked with the county administrator, Board of Supervisors and department managers on communications, policy development, public engagement and projects involving multiple departments.
His responsibilities expanded beyond communications, according to the release. He served as the county’s Freedom of Information Act officer and contributed to its comprehensive, active transportation and energy action plans. He also led development of the county’s current branding, helped update its website and digital communications, and guided an outdoor fitness court project from a successful grant application through construction.
Before joining county government, Martin served five years in the Navy. At Navy Recruiting Command, he worked in public affairs and national marketing, managing an annual budget of about $2 million to support recruiting operations nationwide.
He later served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan while it was forward-deployed to Japan, overseeing sailors and operations within his assigned departments.
“I learned a great deal about leadership in the Navy, particularly about setting expectations, developing people and making sure a team can accomplish its mission under difficult circumstances,” Martin said. “Those experiences continue to influence how I approach public service, and I am grateful for the opportunity to bring those lessons back home and apply them to the work of Henry County.”
Martin also spent nearly two years as a staff writer for the Henry County Enterprise, covering local government in Martinsville and Henry County.
A 2010 Martinsville High School graduate, Martin holds a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, with a focus on policy analysis. He graduated magna cum laude from East Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in sociology.
“Having grown up here and returned home to serve Henry County, I feel a particular responsibility to help make this a stronger community for the people who will live, work and raise their families here in the years to come,” Martin said. “That is the responsibility I hope to carry forward in this role.”