The highway division responsible for Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Robeson and Harnett counties has a new leader.

Lee Jernigan, a registered professional engineer, was named this week as the acting Division 6 Engineer for the N.C. Department of Transportation. He replaces Drew Cox, who was promoted last month to become the department’s Eastern Deputy Chief Engineer, which oversees half of the state. 

Cox, who has worked for the department for 31 years, filled a vacancy after the November retirement of Kevin Bowen.

Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins introduced Jernigan during a Board of Transportation meeting held on Jan. 4 in Raleigh.

Jernigan returned to the NCDOT last May to serve as the Division 6 Deputy Engineer, after an 11-year career with the City of Fayetteville. While with the city, Jernigan was City Traffic Engineer, Interim Director for Engineering & Infrastructure and Assistant Public Services Director.

“I am excited and humbled to be working alongside such a dedicated and talented team of professionals in Division 6,” Jernigan said in a press release. “I have already seen how these employees take pride in serving the public, improving the transportation network and delivering projects that people need and want.”

Prior to his employment with the city, Jernigan worked for 17 years for NCDOT. He spent much of that time with Division 6, which is headquartered in Fayetteville. Jernigan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from N.C. State University.