Thurston County has hired David Bayne as the new director of its Public Health and Social Services Department.
Bayne has over 10 years of experience in public health. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Berry College and a master’s degree in public health from Emory University. His previous role was serving as deputy secretary of strategic partnerships with the Washington state Department of Health.
The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners and the Board of Health will work with Bayne, Public Health and Social Services employees, local organizations and community members on various projects to determine the future goals of public health in Thurston County. A strong focus will be on developing new community partnerships on the local and regional levels as well as strengthening existing community collaborative efforts.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this department at such a critical time and will continue the county’s fight against COVID-19 and other emerging diseases, while keeping the vision for public health and social services moving forward into a new era,” Bayne said.
Bayne takes over for Kurt Hardin, who has served as the interim director since January. Bayne’s first day as director will be Dec. 27.
