DeKalb County has appointed Robert L. Gordon as the new Director of Public Works, according to an announcement by CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. The appointment is effective immediately.
Gordon brings over forty years of experience in public works and fleet management to the role. Before this appointment, he served as Deputy Director of Fleet Management for DeKalb County, where he was responsible for fleet procurement, maintenance, lifecycle management operations, budget development, financial planning, and oversight of daily operations that support public safety and infrastructure services.
“Robert Gordon is a proven leader with a deep understanding of the complex operations that keep DeKalb County running,” said CEO Cochran-Johnson. “His experience, institutional knowledge, and commitment to excellence make him exceptionally well-qualified to lead our Public Works Department as we continue to strengthen service delivery for our residents.”
Throughout his career, Gordon has managed preventive maintenance and repairs for more than 600 heavy trucks used by departments such as Sanitation, Watershed Management, Roads and Drainage, and Fire Services. He has received several honors including being named American Public Works Association (APWA) Professional Manager of the Year and being inducted into the APWA Public Fleet Hall of Fame. His recognitions also include national awards for energy leadership and lifetime achievement in government fleet management.
As Director of Public Works, Gordon will oversee departmental operations covering personnel and budget across divisions like Fleet Maintenance, Roads and Drainage, Sanitation, and Transportation. He will also focus on advancing strategic initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure reliability, operational efficiency, and customer service within DeKalb County.
Gordon holds an associate’s degree in Business Management along with multiple professional certifications from the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. He serves on the Board of Directors for Clean Cities Georgia.
In related county matters during the 2022-23 school year enrollment at DeKalb County schools decreased by 2.2% compared to the previous year (https://www.gadoe.org/). Total enrollment was reported at 98,287 students (https://www.gadoe.org/), with White students making up 14% of the student body during that period (https://www.gadoe.org/).
