Lee is an ICMA Credential Manager and has over 35 years of service in municipal government management. During his local government career Lee served as City Manager in Gainesville, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Bay, and North Miami, Florida.
Lee graduated from Washington and Lee University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts. He earned a Master’s Degree in Governmental Administration from the Fels Center of Government at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was also appointed as a Distinguished Alumni Fellow. In addition, he is a graduate of the Senior Executive in State and Local Government program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. In 2018, Lee was elected a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow.
His numerous professional affiliations included serving as a President of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and currently as a member of the Board of Leading Cities. Lee previously served as a Vice President (Southeast Region) of ICMA, as President of the Florida City and County Management Association, as a member of the Board of MissionSquare Retirement (ICMA-RC), as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Civic League; and, member of the Board of Directors for the Alliance for Innovation (AFI); and as a member of the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency National Advisory Council.
Among his recognitions he was named City Manager of the Year by the Florida League of Cities (2006) and received the ICMA Distinguished Service Award (2024).
