Photo for Headline Surfer / Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald looks on as as James R. Corbett is unanimously confirmed as the county's facility director.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DELAND, Fla. -- James R. Corbett is coming home quite literally – to be Volusia County’s facility director.
A Navy engineer with extensive experience in planning, engineering and
managing facilities, the Volusia County native won County Council confirmation on Tuesday to his new post with the county.
The council unanimously ratified County Manager George Recktenwald’s selection of Corbett to lead the team that’s responsible for comprehensive management of the county's properties and facilities. His annual salary will be $117,000.
“We’re very happy to get him,” Recktenwald told council members. “He’s just a very positive individual.”
The council unanimously ratified County Manager George Recktenwald’s selection of Corbett to lead the team that’s responsible for comprehensive management of the county's properties and facilities. His annual salary will be $117,000. “We’re very happy to get him,”Recktenwald told council members. “He’s just a very positive individual.”
Corbett grew up in Volusia County, having graduated from New Smyrna Beach High School before going on to earn both a bachelor of science and a masters of engineering in civil engineering from the University of Florida.
Corbett has a career with the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps going back to 2008, with positions that included project engineer, construction manager, assistant operations officer, assistant public works officer and lead construction manager.
His last assignment with the Navy before accepting the position with the county was facilities management division director at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He also served a stint with the Navy Civil Engineer Corps as facilities management division director in Djibouti, Africa.
Prior to his Naval career, Corbett was a project engineer at an engineering firm in West Palm Beach and an associate engineer at an engineering consulting firm in New Smyrna Beach. At Tuesday’s confirmation hearing, Corbett seemed happy to be back home.
“I just want to thank you all for the opportunity,” Corbett said moments after his confirmation. “I’m really excited to come back to this community and start contributing to it again.”