Hart County Native Russell McMurray Named New GDOT Commissioner

A Hart County native is the new head of the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Longtime Georgia Department of Transportation executive Russell McMurry was elected  Tuesday by the 14-member State Transportation Board to be the new commissioner of the Transportation Department, effective immediately. 

As such, he will oversee a budget in excess of $2 billion and more than 4,100 employees. 

McMurry, a Hart County native, has worked for Georgia DOT for 25 years – joining in 1990 as a civil engineering trainee. 

Last month, he was chosen by Governor Nathan Deal to be the Department’s next Planning Director after serving for two years as its Chief Engineer – during which time he was responsible for managing the Engineering, Construction, Operations, Intermodal, P3/Innovative and Program Delivery Divisions, as well as the offices of Organizational Performance Management and Engineering Services.  (The governor will select a new planning director nominee to be confirmed by the General Assembly transportation committees.)

“I am humbled, honored and thankful to the Board for the confidence they have shown in me,” McMurry said.  “I will give my best to continue the great teamwork we have here at Georgia DOT – and it is a truly great team, 4110 people strong – to put our best foot forward and do our very best always for the people of Georgia.” 

After being nominated by Board Vice Chairperson Emily Dunn (seconded by Board Members Johnny Floyd and Ann R. Purcell), McMurry’ s election was unanimous.  He is well versed in virtually all Georgia DOT functions having served in a variety of roles throughout his career – from a construction project manager to design engineer to Northeast Georgia District Engineer for five years.  McMurry is a Cum Laude graduate of Georgia Southern University and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Georgia.  

He succeeds Keith Golden who served as commissioner for nearly three years and ends his long tenure at the Department at the end of the month.  Both McMurry and Board Chairman Don Grantham expressed appreciation to Golden for his service to the Department.  “He led through difficult times and did an excellent job,” Grantham observed.