Brandon Martin, Henry County’s former public information officer and a former Henry County Enterprise reporter, has been named deputy county administrator.
Martin, 34, began serving in the position Oct. 1. He had served as the county’s public information officer since 2021, working with the county administrator, Board of Supervisors and department managers on communications, strategic initiatives, policy development and public engagement.
Martin previously served five years in the U.S. Navy, working in public affairs and national marketing initiatives at Navy Recruiting Command. He later served aboard the USS Ronald Reagan while the aircraft carrier was forward deployed to Japan, holding leadership positions 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.”
After his military service and before joining county government, Martin spent nearly two years as a staff writer for the Henry County Enterprise, covering local government in Martinsville and Henry County.
County Administrator Dale Wagoner said Martin’s combination of military leadership, education and local government experience prepared him for the new position.
“Brandon has demonstrated an ability to learn quickly, ask thoughtful questions, work across organizational boundaries and take on increasingly complex assignments,” Wagoner said. “As Henry County looks toward the future, succession planning and developing the next generation of organizational leadership are important 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.”
Since joining the county, Martin has served as its Freedom of Information Act officer and contributed to development of its Comprehensive Plan, Active Transportation Plan and Energy Action Plan. He also led development of the county’s current brand, helped modernize its website and digital communications, and led an application for an outdoor fitness court grant through construction.
Martin holds a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from East Tennessee State University. He graduated from Martinsville High School in 2010.
As deputy county administrator, Martin will assist the county administrator in directing and coordinating county operations and work with department managers, elected officials, employees and community partners. He also will serve as assistant general manager of the Public Service Authority.
“I have always believed that public service is about leaving a community better than you found it,” Martin said. “We have a responsibility to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us and to make decisions with the next generation in mind. 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. That is the responsibility I hope to carry forward in this role.”
