Atlanta, Georgia – Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has chosen new leaders for the city’s Department of Public Works. Cyril Turner will be the Commissioner and Eugene McKinnie will be the Deputy Commissioner. The new leaders started on their new positions on August 14, 2025, and their goal is to improve the city’s cleanliness, sustainability, and community-focused programs.
The Department of Public Works is in charge of a lot of things, such as picking up trash and recyclables and taking care of Atlanta’s fleet of about 5,800 vehicles. It also runs the Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission and municipal projects including Operation Clean Sweep. Under the direction of Turner and McKinnie, the department will keep working on the mayor’s “Crime and Grime” effort, which aims to clean up derelict homes, make sure that codes are followed, and set up neighborhood cleanup projects.
Mayor Dickens said the appointments reflect his administration’s ongoing commitment to improving core city services.
“From the onset of my Administration, we have been laser-focused on improving City services for our residents. The City is proud to attract the level of talent and experience that Cyril Turner and Eugene McKinnie bring to lead the hardworking men and women of DPW,” said Mayor Dickens.
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Turner comes to the city after a successful career in the private sector. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President of Delta Connect for Delta Airlines, where he was in charge of operations for six regional airlines and made sure that Delta Airlines got favorable contracts on buying planes. He was President of Delta Private Jets and President of Delta Global Services before that.
He also worked with Coca-Cola Enterprises in high-level positions, where he was in charge of operations and capital planning. Turner went to Morehouse College and Georgia Institute of Technology. He also has an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
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McKinnie has a lot of experience in the public sector. Most recently, he was the Assistant Director of the Department of Waste Services for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. He also worked as the Deputy Director for Solid Waste and Recycling in Denton, Texas.
McKinnie is noted for combining a focus on outcomes with significant community involvement. He has worked in waste management, fleet services, parks and recreation, and municipal budgeting. He has degrees in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, and Organizational Leadership from American Public University.
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The city also honored Interim Commissioner Kentori Garmon for her leadership during the changeover. Garmon will become AIM’s Deputy Chief Information Officer in a new job. As they start their leadership roles at DPW, Turner and McKinnie will report directly to Chief Operating Officer LaChandra Burks.
