​Gilroy Public Works Director Leaves For North Bay Job

GILROY, CA — Public Works Department Director Girum Awoke is leaving Gilroy for a new position in the North Bay.

Awoke will take lead Vacaville’s Public Works Department, the North Bay city announced in a news release Friday. He’ll start his new role on Nov. 4.

“I am honored to be selected as the next Public Works director for the City of Vacaville and am grateful for the opportunity to serve the city with utmost dedication,” Awoke said in a statement.

“I look forward to working very closely with City Manager Busch, my colleagues in other departments, and staff to fulfill the goals and objectives that the city council has set forth for the City of Vacaville.”

Awoke started his career as a project manager in the private sector in May 2004 and transitioned to local government as a transportation engineer for the Maryland State Highway Administration in June 2006.

He then transitioned to Montgomery County Department of Transportation, where he served as a project manager and later the Chief of Construction.

Awoke holds a doctorate in civil engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park and is a licensed professional engineer in California.

He leaves his position as the Public Works Director for the City of Gilroy, where he has worked since 2017.

“We’re very excited to have Girum at the City of Vacaville,” City Manager Aaron Busch, said in a statement.

“He brings a wealth of experience and we’re confident he has the leadership skills we need to keep the public works department moving in a positive direction.”

The City of Vacaville’s Public Works Department is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the infrastructure of the City, including parks, streets, water, sewer and storm drainage systems, city buildings and facilities, transit, traffic signals, solid waste, recycling, street signs, and striping.

Awoke will oversee the work of 113 full-time employees and 29 part-time staff, an operating budget of $25 million, and capital improvements budget of $36 million.