Hall County resident Russell McMurry has been named the Georgia Department of Transportation's engineering division director.

McMurry, a former district engineer in the DOT's Gainesville office, had been serving as assistant engineering division director.

The promotion was announced this morning.

"Russell is an excellent employee," said DOT Commissioner Vance C. Smith Jr. "His engineering acumen, combined with his people skills and experience in preconstruction and construction, make Russell the best person to oversee our Division of Engineering. "I am proud to have him as a member of our Executive Management Team. I'm certain that he will do a fine job."

McMurry, who began his career with DOT in 1990 as a civil engineer trainee, became construction project manager in 1991. He worked his way up the DOT ladder, becoming Northeast Georgia's district engineer in 2004. He served in that role for five years.

In his new post, he will oversee much of the preconstruction work statewide for bridges and roadway projects.