The County Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the organization and is responsible for the professional management of all programs and activities under the Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Gray leads an organization of more than 1,500 employees within the following departments: Public Works, Environmental Services, Budget, Parks & Recreation, Human Resources, Strategic Initiatives, Resource Management, Information Technology, Development Services, Emergency Management, Community Services, Communications, Animal Services, and the Seminole County Fire Department.
Mr. Gray was appointed as the new manager for Seminole County on January 26, 2023, by the Board of County Commissioners. This leadership role is the most recent in a successful 30-year career of serving as an administrator in some of Central Florida’s fastest-growing areas.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Mr. Gray has brought innovative ideas to the forefront, ensuring a brighter future for the communities he serves. Shortly after his selection as Seminole County’s manager, he presented a balanced FY 2023/34 budget, which amounted to more than $1 billion for operations of the County Government and Constitutional Offices. As Deputy County Manager in Osceola, he was a key member of the team that secured more than $50 million in funding from the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration in 2022 for Central Florida's semiconductor and microelectronics industry cluster. As Deputy County Administrator for Orange County, he and his team overcame the post-pandemic challenge of significant trade show attendance decline to successfully restore the Orange County Convention Center to its former glory as a key economic engine.
From 2012-2020, Mr. Gray served as Clermont City Manager, leading numerous successful initiatives, including opening Central Florida's largest performing arts center, a 220-acre passive park, a million-dollar boathouse, and a splash park. He was also responsible for a multi-million-dollar master plan that served as the city's blueprint for growth, stimulating record investments in capital projects by the private sector, and spurring unprecedented economic and business development.
Prior to becoming Clermont City Manager, Darren served as Lake County Manager for two years, after briefly serving as Deputy County Manager. Before that, he held several high-level positions in Orange County Government after starting his career as Assistant City Manager for Clermont.
Mr. Gray is a proud alumnus of the University of Central Florida, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Public Administration. In 2019, UCF honored him with the Alumni Achievement Award in Public Administration.