Mayor Andre Dickens today announced several leadership changes in his Administration as he continues to implement his visionary and impactful plans to Move Atlanta Forward and make Atlanta the best city to raise a child.  The following appointments are effective following an appropriate transition period specific to each department:

• ●LaChandra Butler Burks, Interim Chief Operating Officer, City of Atlanta

• ●Jan Lennon, Interim General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

• ●Al Wiggins Jr., Commissioner, Department of Watershed Management, City of Atlanta

• ●Kentorri Garmon, Interim Commissioner, Department of Public Works, City of Atlanta

• ●Peter Aman, Chief Strategy Officer, City of Atlanta

Mayor Dickens said that in his first two years of his Administration, his senior team focused on establishing his Moving Atlanta Forward agenda for the City of Atlanta and building the groundwork to deliver results across the plan’s four pillars: (1.) One Safe City; (2.) A City of Opportunity for All; (3.) A City Built for the Future; and (4.) A City with Effective & Ethical Government. Mayor Dickens said that while many significant milestones in public safety, affordable housing, and operational efficiency already have been achieved, the leadership changes in his Cabinet are intended to accelerate execution and implementation of the plan.

“My vision for an Atlanta that has safe, healthy and connected neighborhoods and access and opportunity for all residents is not a 10, 20 or 30 year goal,” said Mayor Dickens. “We are building for the future, but we also know we can make a difference in people’s lives right now. My Moving Atlanta Forward agenda has achievable action items and we’ve seen that by bringing people together from the business, government, and nonprofit sectors, we can get more done, faster. That is the charge I am giving to my Administration, and I look forward to working with the members of my team who are stepping into new roles because of their proven leadership.”

“That said, I especially express my appreciation to Chief Operating Officer Lisa Y. Benjamin for her dedication and contributions to the City of Atlanta. She’s been an important partner to me and this City over the past two and a half years, and I am grateful for her.  I also would like to acknowledge Balram ‘B’ Bheodari, General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, for his hard work leading the world’s busiest passenger airport. And I would like to thank Commissioner Mikita K. Browning for her work leading the Department of Watershed Management, especially the implementation of the water consent decree. No one can run a city alone, and I appreciate the commitment and accomplishments of these fine public servants.”

Chief Operating Officer, City of Atlanta

Burks, who has served as Deputy Chief Operating Officer for more than three years and is a former Interim Commissioner of the City of Atlanta’s Department of Parks and Recreation, will step into the role of Interim Chief Operating Officer on May 25, 2024, allowing Benjamin to transition into the next phase of her career.  

Burks worked closely with Benjamin on public safety initiatives such as Atlanta Fire Rescue Department station improvements and airport operations.  Mayor Dickens said he looks forward to her continuing to place a priority focus on critical operational and infrastructure needs around public safety, public works, and transportation.

Benjamin has led city operations since Mayor Dickens took office in 2022 and helped him build his Cabinet and hire for key positions that enabled significant operational improvements across city departments. Her leadership accomplishments include proactive investments in the city's technology and enterprise-wide systems to implement significant efficiency improvements for internal operations that impact the public; fostering a culture of accountability and responsiveness which significantly improved delivery of services; and investing in the city’s workforce to provide competitive salaries and benefits and an improved work environment.  During her tenure, the city saw a 21% reduction in crime due to various public safety and social strategies. Her last day with the City of Atlanta is May 24, 2024.

 “It has been an honor to serve Mayor Andre Dickens' administration as COO with an outstanding team of employees and an engaged City Council,” Benjamin said. “We have demonstrated how city government can operate with integrity, accountability and excellence. I am most proud of the amazing results we have achieved in a short time frame including significantly reducing crime and restoring faith in city government.”

General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Lennon, who currently serves as Deputy General Manager of Operations, will serve as Interim General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as of July 1. In her role now, she leads the airport’s operations, public safety and security, transportation traffic enforcement, and facilities and asset management divisions. She has more than 25 years of experience, with a deep background in airport security management.

Bheodari will help with the transition through June 30.  He played a critical role leading the airport's successful recovery from numerous challenging events over the years, including the terrorist attack of 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic recovery. During his career at HJAIA, the airport hit several milestones, including the completion of several master plan capital projects, such as a $1.3B 5th runway, a $300M consolidated rental facility, a $1.4B international terminal, and $400M terminal renovation projects. He has also guided the current $3B project that involves widening Concourse D, cargo expansion, a new parking deck, extending the plane train system, and building an airport administrative center.

The city will retain an executive search firm to assist with finding and recruiting a permanent General Manager before the end of the calendar year for the world’s busiest passenger airport and #1 airport in North America according to Business Traveler magazine. Mayor Dickens will name a search committee to assist with the process.

Commissioner, Department of Watershed Management, City of Atlanta and Commissioner, Department of Public Works, City of Atlanta

Wiggins, who currently serves as the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works, will become the Commissioner of the Department of Watershed Management, effective immediately.  Garmon will step into the role of Interim Commissioner of the Department of Public Works after having served with the city for four years.

Wiggins joined the City as Commissioner of Public Works in March 2021. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Wiggins has held various government leadership positions over the course of his career. These include serving as Deputy City Manager for the City of Chamblee, Planning and Zoning Director for the City of Forest Park, and Public Works Supervisor with the City of Avondale Estates.

He takes over from Mikita K. Browning, who joined the City of Atlanta in 2011 and took on increasing responsibilities such as overseeing the implementation of the Clean Water Atlanta Program.  She was appointed by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms as Interim Commissioner of the Department of Watershed Management in May 2020 before stepping into her current role a few months later in October 2020. Under her leadership, the Department completed over $150M in CIP projects and expanded the Care and Conserve Program for low-income households.

 “I am proud of the journey and progress made while leading the Department of Watershed Management including accomplishing a downward trend in sewer spills, compliance with the City’s Consent Decrees, and observing the completion of some amazing water projects that will ensure the City’s growth and development into the future.” Browning said.

Dickens said the Administration’s priorities for Wiggins and the Department of Watershed Management include a heightened focus and urgency on its Capital Improvement Program, which targets increasing the capacity of the city’s water supply, continuing green infrastructure projects that manage stormwater runoff and reduce the environmental impact, and enhancing watershed management.

Chief Strategy Officer, City of Atlanta

Aman, who currently serves as Chief Administrative Officer of the Atlanta Police Department, will step into the newly created role of Chief Strategy Officer, reporting to the Mayor, on May 15, 2024. A retired partner from Bain & Company and EY-Parthenon with more than 30 years of experience, Aman was Chief Operating Officer of the City of Atlanta for two years from 2010 through 2011.

Aman will be responsible for supporting the Mayor and the Mayor's Senior Team in the development and execution of major initiatives to improve the functioning of the City of Atlanta government and the quality of life of its residents and visitors. His initial focus areas include augmenting the efforts to improve the RM Clayton sewage treatment plant and accelerating the pace of the Moving Atlanta Forward Program.