Athens Reporter

Josh Hawkins has been appointed as the new Capital Projects Administrator by Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Manager Blaine Williams. Hawkins, who will take on the role starting May 26, brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. Williams expressed his enthusiasm for Hawkins' appointment, stating, "I’m excited to welcome Josh to the ACCGov team as our Capital Projects Administrator. His professional life experiences and local government knowledge make him well-suited for this complex responsibility of coordination of capital projects programs."

Hawkins, who successfully planned multiple sales tax referendums in Oglethorpe County, shared his excitement about the new role, saying, "I am grateful for this opportunity to serve Athens-Clarke County and its residents. I look forward to joining an already talented and cohesive management team." He emphasized the importance of delivering capital projects with accountability and achieving results that make the community proud.

In addition to his extensive experience in local government, Hawkins is also an Army veteran with a background in aviation and logistics. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia.

The ACCGov Capital Projects Administrator position was established in 2020 to oversee and coordinate SPLOST 2020 projects and other capital projects. Hawkins will be responsible for coordinating efforts, schedules, budgets, procurement, and resident engagement, as well as improving communication between departments. Jacobs, a contracted project management company, will continue to provide program management services for SPLOST and TSPLOST projects under Hawkins' oversight.

Hawkins takes over the position previously held by Robert Cheshire, who resigned in May 2023. Williams expressed his gratitude to various department heads for ensuring the smooth operation of the capital project program during the interim period.