Goochland County names Elizabeth McDonald deputy administrator for operations

Goochland County is putting its public utilities veteran in charge of operations, a move that places Elizabeth McDonald, P.E., closer to the water, wastewater and day-to-day systems that shape how the county handles growth and delivers service. The county posted the promotion to deputy county administrator for operations on May 14, naming McDonald to a role with broad influence over how the county runs behind the scenes.

McDonald had been serving as director of public utilities since September 8, 2025, when Goochland welcomed her as director of public utilities and county engineer. In that earlier announcement, the county said she had worked with six municipalities during her career, held a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from the University of Michigan and was pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Central Florida. Goochland described her as bringing a strong background in public utilities, engineering, municipal leadership and operational excellence.

The move also fits into a leadership structure the county put in place in 2025. Sara Worley began as deputy county administrator for economic and community development in August 2025, and the county had already said the deputy administrator setup was meant to support operations and county-wide special projects. McDonald’s promotion keeps the county’s leadership split between growth-focused work and the operational side of government, where water service, construction coordination and internal delivery can affect how smoothly new development is absorbed.

McDonald’s current department gives her a clear view of those pressures. Goochland County Public Utilities handles water and wastewater services, and the department roster shows staff in operations, engineering, customer service, construction and utility roles. That makes McDonald’s move more than a personnel change. It puts an engineer with utility experience into a post that can shape how the county responds to infrastructure demands, service expectations and the practical side of growth.

The county also highlighted McDonald in March 2026 as one of the nation’s 250 Public Service Champions, an honor from the Local Gov 250 initiative and the National Academy of Public Administration. Goochland said the recognition was meant for public servants making a lasting impact in their communities. For Goochland, the promotion signals a more technical hand on the systems residents notice when county service, utility work and special projects all have to move at once.