Michael Moore
Making a Difference in Beaufort County
story by JENNIFER BROWN-CARPENTER photos by JENNY PHILLIPS
As of July 1, 2024, with the unanimous consent of the Council and all their support behind him, Michael Moore stepped into his new role as Beaufort County Administrator. Although Michael is newer to the Beaufort area, he is more than well-prepared for the position, and there is no doubt that he fits right into our community of veterans, active-duty military personnel, and family-oriented citizens.
Michael spent his childhood in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He graduated from high school there and was appointed to the Naval Academy, along with two other hometown friends. Michael had family members who had been in the military, and that, along with his interest in aviation and the space program, led him to the Navy.
Michael moved to Annapolis, Maryland, graduating from the Naval Academy with a bachelor of science in General Engineering. He was commissioned in the Navy and earned his wings as a Naval Aviator. He spent 30 years serving in the Navy, and his commands included Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 3 and Naval Support Activity at Souda Bay in Crete, Greece. He also served as the Operations Officer for the forward-deployed USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group in Yokosuka, Japan, as well as on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School and completed a 16-week International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship with the City of Chesapeake, VA, serving in the city manager’s office.
Michael spent the final six years of his military career in Installation Management, which is like local government. He spent two years as the Commanding Officer at Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Crete, Greece. After that, he went to work at Regional Headquarters, managing 14 major installations in a twenty-state area in the Northeastern United States, from North Carolina to Maine and Illinois.
Michael was then hired as an Assistant County Manager of York County, South Carolina. He spent three and a half years serving in that position before the position as Beaufort County Administrator opened. “I was extremely fortunate to get hired at this job.” Michael started his role as Administrator on July 1, 2024.
Michael and his wife, Jennifer, have extended family that live in the area which was another attraction that drew them to Beaufort. Their two grown sons live in Alabama and Kentucky. They have one grandson and another one on the way, and recently settled into their new home in Port Royal.
As the Administrator, Michael is doing a lot of things that you might not even be aware of. “As the Administrator, I’m employed by the Council, and a majority of the staff reports to me. Council sets policy, and my job is to carry out that policy and manage the Leadership Team and employees in the County.”
There are a lot of different areas in our County where teams are working for the Council. Michael is responsible to the Council for the management and supervision of those teams, services, and programs. It is a very hands-on job, thus Michael has spent a lot of time going to meet the different teams and departments. “I have been working to get out there and meet all of them as well as all elected officials.”
The departments that Michael oversees include Public Works, Facilities, Risk Management, Information Technology, Finance, Purchasing, Parks and Recreation, Passive Parks, Planning and Zoning, Business Licenses, Assessor, Disability and Special Needs, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Programs, Communications Staff, Broadcast Services, Records Management, Attorneys, Human Resources, Capital Improvements, Mapping and Applications, Detention Center, Animal Services, EMS, Mosquito Control, Engineering, Human Services, Register of Deeds, the two Airports in our County, Building Inspections/Code Enforcement, Business Services, and the Library.
Day-to-day, Michael works with the assistant county administrators to make sure they are carrying out the Council’s policies, and has meetings with outside agencies and officials, including other municipalities in the County, as well as making phone calls, emails, and signing documents. He also works on putting together the Council Agenda for the Council Committee meetings. “I spend a good amount of time in preparation for those meetings.”
Michael wants to ensure that they have the right teams and staffing to provide great services to Beaufort County. Right now, they are in the process of revising the procurement code (how goods and services are purchased), so that they can roll that out and implement it across the county to ensure the trust of the County’s taxpayers. Michael is working toward continuity and stability across the board when it comes to the work he is doing.
Michael is looking across the organization to see how they are structured to make sure that they are aligned properly. “I want us to be moving forward in the most efficient manner possible.” He is focused on working to improve the communication between Council and staff, so they can work seamlessly together. He is also working to build and establish relationships with the administrators and managers of other cities and towns in the area.
He is looking forward to make sure, that in the next 5-10 years, the County will be thriving due to the work that is put in now. “I want to make sure we are putting funding in place to make improvements, so that there is a better quality of life for everyone. We need to make sure that our programs and services are going to meet the demands of the future growth in the County as well. That is a lot of what I will continue to look at.”
Michael views his military background as a blessing and something he can bring to the table in our military-filled community. He is also very family-oriented, which is something he feels that a lot of the citizens of Beaufort County also care a lot about. “I want people to be able to work and live here, and enjoy a good quality of life.”
Outside of work, Michael enjoys the outdoors and running, spending time with family, and making FaceTime calls with his sons and grandson. He and his wife love to travel and sightsee, and they look forward to exploring more around Beaufort County. They also enjoy football, rooting for the Navy and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and attending a classic rock concert when they are able. “We have a fantasy football league in our family, and we have fun with that.”
As well as his bachelor’s degree from the Naval Academy, Michael boasts a master of science in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus in Adelphi, MD, and a master of science in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute in Tullahoma, TN.
“My experiences have put me in a place where I feel that I can make a difference for the citizens of the County. I want to make sure we are being good stewards of the public’s trust. I want to ensure we are earning that trust and that we are looking out for the long-term view of the County. It is an important position, no doubt. We are excited to be in Beaufort County and look forward to spending a lot of years here.”
