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Hawkins will join the Athens-Clarke County government as the new capital projects administrator. (Dink Nesmith/Oglethorpe Echo)
Josh Hawkins is heading to Athens.
Hawkins, Oglethorpe County’s administrator, has been hired as the capital projects administrator for Athens-Clarke County, according to a news release on Tuesday.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to serve Athens-Clarke County and its residents,” Hawkins said in the release. “I look forward to joining an already talented and cohesive management team. Collectively, we will continue to deliver capital projects with the highest level of accountability and with results that make the community proud.”
Hawkins held several positions in Oglethorpe County the past 10 years, including finance director, technology director and planning director.
His title was changed to county administrator in May 2022.
He was often seen at monthly Commision meetings and called on to clarify issues about a variety of topics. Commission Chair Jay Paul said the county will put together a plan before deciding on a course of action.
“It is a work in progress, and I will be looking for feedback from the commissioners, elected officials and department heads over the next few weeks,” Paul said. “Josh is one of the brightest people I know and he will leave some large shoes to fill.”
Hawkins oversaw four sales tax referendums in Oglethorpe County, including a 2017 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and a 2018 Transportation SPLOST program.
The 2022 SPLOST and 2023 T-SPLOST are ongoing.
Hawkins is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and has a master’s in public administration from the University of Georgia. He is a U.S. Army veteran and former Blackhawk helicopter pilot.
Hawkins will work on capital projects, which are “designed to construct new facilities — including buildings or infrastructure — or make significant, long-term renewal improvements to existing facilities,” according to the release.
“I’m excited to welcome Josh to the ACCGov team as our capital projects administrator,” ACC Manager Blaine Williams said. “His professional life experiences and local government knowledge make him well-suited for this complex responsibility of coordination of capital projects programs and ultimately linking many of our departments. Our programs will benefit greatly from his forward thinking and commitment to public service.”