Chris Lafferty

His leadership abilities, knowledge of budgets and deep roots to the county led Lauderdale County supervisors to name Chris Lafferry as county administrator this week. 

The 38-year-old is a captain in Battery A 1-204th Air Defense Artillery of the Mississippi Army National Guard based out of Newton. His responsibilities are overseeing air space around the nation’s capitol, including the White House.

“We prevent another 9/11 from happening,” Lafferty said Wednesday afternoon. “We take care of Washington, D.C., and protect the pillars of democracy.”

Lafferty has been on his latest deployment since September.

During a 2011 deployment to Iraq, Lafferty was awarded the Bronze Star for leadership. Lafferty said he managed a military budget of approximately $35 million. 

Lafferty, who received an associate degree from East Central Community College and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Liberty University, developed the paramedic program at Meridian Community College. He has directed the program since 2012 and managed a budget there of more than $100,000. He said he resigned that position once he was selected county administrator. 

Lafferty said working at MCC has been instrumental in his professional development. 

“I can’t say enough about Dr. Scott Elliott and Dr. Richie McAlister,” Lafferty said. “Those two were very instrumental in helping me develop my management skills.”

Since 2004, he has also worked as a paramedic for Metro Ambulance Service.

Lafferty said he is uniquely qualified for the county administrator position. 

“I’ve got nearly 20 years of military experience leading people in every kind of situation,” Lafferty said. “As a paramedic, I’m used to working under stress and pressure. In the military, I’m used to working on complex systems and processes. I’m used to managing budgets and equipment and leading people.”      

Lafferty said his new position is similar to the military.

“Basic leadership is the same no matter where you go,” he said. “I’m confident of the challenge going from the military to county administrator. The way you manage money doesn’t change. The way you lead people doesn’t change. I believe in serving people. I will always be a paramedic. I love helping people.”

A native of the Lauderdale County community of Zero, Lafferty said he was honored by the selection by the supervisors. He was one of four candidates interviewed for the job. 

“I am truly honored. Never in my life would I have thought I would be able to serve Lauderdale County as administrator,” Lafferty said. “I am extremely honored and proud of the diverse team of supervisors. I’m looking forward to serving our county.”

Lafferty begins his administrator duties Aug. 1 and will draw a salary of $100,000, plus county benefits. 

John Lovorn, CEO of the Tupelo-based consultants The Pace Group, which headed the search, said supervisors hit a home run with Lafferty’s selection.

“In my opinion, Chris Lafferty will be one of the shining stars for Lauderdale County in the next 10 years,”  Lovorn said. “He has integrity, energy, listening and management skills to take Lauderdale County to another level.”

Board president Joe Norwood agreed.

“His military experience, knowledge of Lauderdale County and his ability to manage and lead an excellent existing staff were the reasons we selected him unanimously,” Norwood said.

District 3 Supervisor Josh Todd said supervisors did their homework.

“We had good reports from officers above him. Foremost, he was the only one that lives in Lauderdale County,” Todd said. “That was a big thing that he wasn’t going anywhere; he has chosen to live here and grew up here. The last thing we want to do is try and find an administrator every two years. He’s a great fit for us and Lauderdale County.”

“With Chris’s educational background and his leadership in the military, I think we’ve found an administrator to help the supervisors move Lauderdale County forward,“ said District 2 Supervisor Wayman Newell. 

Lafferty and his wife, Shana, have been married for 18 years and have two sons, Jackson and Cooper. They are active members of First Baptist Church in Collinsville.

He succeeds David Engel, who stepped down as county administrator last October.