Kenny Whitworth has been appointed district administrative officer for the 21 counties in Northeast Georgia that make up Department of Transportation District 1, Interim District Engineer Todd McDuffie has announced.

Whitworth, a Jackson County resident, began his career with the state in 1989 with the Board of Pardon and Paroles. His last role there was supervisor of the specialized surveillance unit. He came to DOT in 2003 as an investigator researching criminal and administrative allegations.

He assumed his new duties Dec. 1 and is responsible for the administrative functions of District 1 including personnel, training, safety, technology, purchasing and accounting. He supervises a staff of 15 and an annual operating budget of about $24 million.

Whitworth has an associates of arts degree from Truett-McConnell College and a bachelor’s of managerial science degree from Georgia State University.

A native of Hart County, Whitworth lives in Jefferson with his wife, Angela, and two children.