Cabarrus aligns leadership to strengthen County services
Published on November 05, 2026
Cabarrus County is aligning leadership roles across several departments to support the coordination and delivery of services to residents. The changes include new responsibilities for two Emergency Medical Services (EMS) leaders and updated structures for other departments.
Longtime EMS Chief Jimmy Lentz will now serve as Chief of Emergency Services, which includes EMS, Emergency Management and Fire Services. Justin Brines has been named EMS chief.
Additionally, County Attorney Doug Hall was named Chief Compliance Officer, over Legal, Safety and Risk Management, and Procurement.
Finance Director Jim Howden was named Chief Financial Officer, overseeing the Finance and Budget departments.
No new positions were created in the realignment.
“This helps us work more collaboratively toward shared priorities and goals that strengthen the County and better highlight the importance of our work and the value of services we provide to residents,” Cabarrus County Manager John Eller said. “These updates are designed to build a more connected, streamlined organization.”
Emergency Services
Emergency Services coordinates EMS, Emergency Management and Fire Services under Lentz, who has a 30-plus-year career with Cabarrus.
He joined Cabarrus as a part-time EMT in the fall of 1989. Since then, he has served as crew chief, field training officer, relief supervisor, tactical medic, SWAT medic and ATV medic.
In 2013, he became assistant director and was promoted to director in 2018.
Brines started in public safety as a volunteer with Odell Fire Department at the age of 16. He became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in 1996 before joining Cabarrus County part-time in August 1998. Since going full-time in 2000, he has served as a paramedic, crew chief, field training officer, lieutenant, captain and assistant director, which became the deputy chief role.
Brines holds a master’s degree in health sciences and a bachelor’s degree in emergency and disaster management.
As EMS Chief, he will oversee a department of 132 full-time and 47 part-time employees. In 2025, Cabarrus EMS responded to 38,247 calls with an average response time of 7 minutes and 42 seconds.
“This promotion reflects Justin’s experience, leadership capabilities and dedication to Cabarrus EMS and the community as a whole,” Lentz said in his announcement to the department. “I am confident that he will provide strong leadership as the organization continues to build on its tradition of delivering high-quality emergency medical services to Cabarrus County.”
The consolidation of EMS, Emergency Management and Fire Services gives the teams a shared direction for planning and coordinating resources, Eller said. “They already work together when our community needs them most. This will solidify that partnership even further.”
Jason Burnett serves as the Emergency Management Director. Fire Marshal Jacob Thompson leads Fire Services.
Compliance / Finance
The other department alignments will create a more coordinated approach to managing the County’s responsibilities, according to Eller.
“It’s designed to support sound decision-making, safeguard public resources and help protect the employees and residents we serve.”
Chief Compliance Officer Doug Hall joined Cabarrus in early 2025. In addition to his role as General Counsel, he was appointed as the Board of Commissioners attorney in July 2025.
Nearly all his 30-plus-year legal career has been in service of local governments around the state.
Hall will oversee Legal, Safety and Risk Management and Procurement. He will continue supporting the board until the board attorney role is filled.
Jon Bradley serves as the Safety and Risk Management Director. Tom Nunn is the Chief Procurement Officer.
Chief Financial Officer Jim Howden joined Cabarrus in 2022. He’s worked in finance for more than three decades, the last 10 of which have been in local government.
In addition to the Finance Department, Howden will oversee the Budget Department, led by Budget Director Rosh Khatri.
“These changes bring related areas closer together, from how we prepare for emergencies to how we manage resources,” Eller said. “By aligning the people and teams behind these services, we’re creating more opportunities to serve our community.”