At its meeting today, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed Michael A. Becketts as the next director of the Department of Family Services. Becketts will succeed Nanette Bowler, who is retiring from the county on Friday, Aug. 2. Becketts will take on his official role as DFS director Sept. 3. 

Becketts currently works at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services where he has served as assistant secretary for human services and senior director for policy and planning. For the past two years, he has provided executive leadership in the delivery of social services programs and evaluating North Carolina's model used to deliver social services and child welfare programs.

Over a nearly 20-year career, Becketts has worked in settings that provide supportive services in the areas of child welfare, aging, health, mental health, juvenile justice, academic medicine and education, with a career focus on supporting the health, safety and well-being of marginalized and vulnerable populations. 

Becketts began his career as a child welfare social worker in the Washington, D.C., foster care system, supporting families working toward reunification or finding a permanent, stable home for children. He has also served as deputy director of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services and director of Durham County, NC, Department of Social Services. 

Becketts has a bachelor’s degree in social work from McDaniel College and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. He also earned a master’s degree in health administration from the University of Baltimore, a master’s degree in education from Widener University and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Widener University. 

Becketts will receive an annual salary of $195,000.