Mecklenburg County Commissioner George Dunlap received the state's highest honor for county leadership on Tuesday, Aug. 25, when the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners named him its 2026 Commissioner of the Year at the group's 119th annual conference in Durham.

Dunlap, who represents District 3 on the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners, was presented with the M.H. "Jack" Brock Outstanding County Commissioner Award for his service and advocacy at the state and federal levels, according to Mecklenburg County government.

The award recognizes commissioners who have demonstrated special achievements on behalf of county governments across the state. This year's selection also reflected the conference theme of driving county innovation.

"Commissioner Dunlap is the definition of outstanding, and we are so proud to have him as a national leader for North Carolina," NCACC executive director Kevin Leonard said in a statement.

Dunlap's career spans decades of public service: 27 years in law enforcement, 13 years in the military, 13 years on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board and 18 years on the county commission, including six terms as board chair. He holds a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's in criminal justice from UNC Charlotte.

The honor caps a busy year.

In July, the National Association of Counties elected Dunlap its president at NACo's annual conference in New Orleans on July 20. His presidential initiative, "Building Better Futures," focuses on improving outcomes for young people, including a new Youth Housing and Homelessness Task Force.

Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chair Mark Jerrell praised Dunlap at the award presentation, calling him "a trusted mentor and an invaluable source of wisdom, counsel and support, not only to me, but to members of our Board throughout their service."

Dunlap also chairs NACo's Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee and serves on the NCACC board. District 3 includes the Ballantyne area.