Forsyth County Water and Sewer Director Barry Lucas has been appointed Assistant County Manager effective April 10, 2023. He will fill the vacancy left by David McKee upon becoming County Manager in December 2022.

"Barry has been integral for Forsyth County's water and sewer infrastructure development for decades," said County Manager David McKee. "His leadership qualities and understanding of the crucial roles the County's various public works departments will have in our future made him an ideal candidate for the position. We are excited to have him in the role."

Lucas will oversee the operations of the County’s Fleet Services, Public Facilities, Engineering, Capital Projects, Water & Sewer and Recycling & Solid Waste Departments.

Lucas has served as Director for the Forsyth County Department of Water & Sewer since February 2021. In this role Lucas was responsible for the leadership of a department of 140 employees providing water and sewer services to approximately 175,000 County residents.

Beginning in 2002 and until February 2021, Lucas served as Deputy Director for the Forsyth County Department of Water & Sewer. In that role Lucas was responsible for managing all engineering related activities for the department, including master planning, project planning, project management and construction of all capital improvement projects. He began his service with Forsyth County in 1996.

Lucas is a graduate of The Citadel with a degree in civil engineering and received his master’s degree from Old Dominion University. He served in the U.S. Navy on active duty from 1985 to 1994 and continued his military career in the U.S. Navy Reserve until his retirement in 2016. He and his wife, Lisa, have lived in Forsyth County since 1994 and have three children.

The County has two assistant county managers, and on March 24, Tony Tarnacki was appointed to the other assistant county manager position.