Governor Perdue Appoints Trey Childress Director of Office of Planning and Budget

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today the appointment of Trey Childress as the director of the Office of Planning and Budget (OPB). Childress follows Shelley Nickel, who recently accepted a position in Chancellor Erroll Davis’s office leading the strategic planning and implementation efforts for the University System of Georgia.

“We are working to achieve complete cohesiveness between the state’s budgeting function and our philosophy on policy issues,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “Trey has extensive experience as a team player from leading policy research and development for the office of the Governor for more than four years. He will enhance the solid connection Shelley established between OPB budget analysts and my policy team at the Capitol.”

Childress has served as Governor Sonny Perdue's director of policy since joining the Perdue gubernatorial campaign in 2002 as director of issues and research. Since that time, Childress has led the research and development efforts for the administration's policy and legislative agendas, as well as serving as a senior advisor on health and human service issues.

Childress began his career in state government working with the former Information Technology Policy Council, assessing the state's information technology assets and preparing for Y2K conversions and planning. He also worked for the Georgia Technology Authority, assisting in the early start-up efforts of the agency. Childress later worked for the OPB Planning, Research and Evaluation Division before joining Perdue’s campaign in 2002.

Childress earned a Masters of Science in Public Policy, a Bachelors of Science in Industrial & Systems Engineering and a Bachelors of Science in International Affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

“I look forward to working closely with the Georgia General Assembly to have a transparent and productive discussion about our state’s budget priorities,” said Childress. “I am honored to serve in this new role, and eager to use my knowledge of Governor Perdue’s principles and values, as he builds on his strong record as a conscientious steward of taxpayer dollars.” Childress’s transition will begin immediately.

OPB serves as the primary budgeting arm of Georgia’s executive branch and attached state agencies. OPB works closely with Governor Perdue to present the annual Governor’s budget recommendation to the Georgia General Assembly each January. In doing so, OPB evaluates, develops and implements the budgets, plans, programs and policies of the Governor’s Office and state agencies. The agency also provides strategic planning support and conducts program evaluations for state government, and serves as the primary data center for census information.