After three decades of service to Hamilton County, Director of Administration and former County Prosecutor Lee Buckingham will retire at the end of this month.

Buckingham’s final day will be Friday, May 30, capping off a distinguished 30-year career in county government that began in 1995.

“Working for Hamilton County has been the honor of a lifetime,” Buckingham said in a statement. “The people—whether in the Prosecutor’s Office, the courts, or county administration—are truly the best part of this job.”

Buckingham started his career in public service as a Deputy Prosecutor, a role he held for 16 years before being elected Hamilton County Prosecutor in 2010. He led the office for 12 years, stepping down in 2022. In January 2023, he took on a new leadership role as Director of Administration for the Hamilton County Commissioners.

In addition to his prosecutorial work, Buckingham served on the county’s Community Corrections Advisory Board for 22 years, many of those as president, contributing to the development of local criminal justice initiatives.

“Lee has been a trusted and thoughtful leader in Hamilton County government,” said Steve Dillinger, President of the Hamilton County Commissioners. “His legal expertise, calm presence, and principled approach to public service have made a lasting difference in our community. We wish him nothing but the best.”

A licensed attorney, Buckingham earned his law degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Loyola University. He is stepping away from public service to be closer to family.

“Leaving Hamilton County is not easy,” Buckingham added. “I’ll always be grateful for the relationships I’ve built and the trust I’ve been given over these 30 years.”

The County has not yet announced who will succeed Buckingham in the Director of Administration role.