Title: Assistant County Administrator
Company: Sumter County Board of County Commissioners
Location: Bushnell, Florida, United States
Stephen Kennedy, MPA, MCIS, assistant county administrator at Sumter County Board of County Commissioners, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements, and leadership in public service.
With three decades of experience, Mr. Kennedy has built a successful career in public safety, law enforcement, security, and corrections. He currently serves as assistant county administrator at Sumter County Economic Development, a position he has held since 2019. In this role, he supports the county administrator and occasionally acts on his behalf. His primary focus is on public safety, overseeing the 911 communication center, emergency management, and the state-of-the-art public safety radio communications system. Additionally, he is responsible for all information technology and communication services, as well as fleet transit, mosquito control, animal services, fire, EMS, and 911 operations.
Mr. Kennedy’s experience also includes serving as public safety director and 911 coordinator for Sumter County Economic Development from 2017 to 2019. Prior to that, he was the deputy chief of administration for the same organization from 2011 to 2017. His earlier roles include instructor at Lake Technical Center from 2006 to 2011, lieutenant firefighter and paramedic at The Villages Public Safety Department from 2002 to 2011, police officer for the City of Leesburg from 2000 to 2004, and district commander for the Florida Regional EMS from 1997 to 2000.
Mr. Kennedy is an active member of the Florida NENA, where he has served as second vice president since 2023, and he also dedicates his time as a public safety volunteer and a sponsor for local community initiatives. Laying a solid educational foundation, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in organizational management from Warner University in 2004, a Master of Public Administration in emergency management from Jacksonville State University in 2012, and a Master of Science in computer science from Jacksonville State University in 2016. He also holds several certifications, including Emergency Number Professional from NENA: The 9-1-1 Association, Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional from the Global Information Assurance Certification, certified chief fire officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence, and certified public manager from Florida State University, achieved in 2016. Additionally, he is an executive fire officer with the US Fire Administration, an EMT-P certified by the Florida Department of Health, and holds accreditation from Fire Accreditation International.
Mr. Kennedy takes great pride in securing a $2.6 million grant for 911 system upgrades beginning in 2023, implementing a cloud-hosted backup for the public safety radio system since 2019, leading the Next Generation 911 transition from 2017 to 2022, and overseeing the Sumter County P25 Digital Public Safety Radio System project in 2012. Additionally, he successfully implemented public-private partnerships, including the establishment of the world’s first cloud-hosted backup system for radios through a private entity. This achievement was especially impactful, as it proved its effectiveness during a hurricane, showcasing the potential of embracing cloud technology in critical public safety operations.
Mr. Kennedy attributes his success to the strong foundation and values instilled in him during his time at a military high school, where he learned the importance of hard work, quality work, and follow-through. He credits his career advancement to the guidance of strong mentors who have helped him develop his leadership skills and understand the distinction between supervision and leadership to lead effectively. In the coming years, he is eager to broaden his experience at the county level, with the ultimate goal of pursuing opportunities as a city manager or chief executive officer within another county or municipality. His goal is to foster a positive and healthy atmosphere while ensuring clear plans are in place for both the success and transition of his team. He believes that true progress comes from being able to delegate responsibility and avoid feeling stuck in one position. To aspiring professionals, he advises being open-minded, patient, and always willing to learn.
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