Wanda Dunham
Wanda Y. Dunham
Chief of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Police Department (MARTA)
Chief Dunham has been with the Police Department for twenty-nine years holding many positions of command responsibility.
As the Chief of the 9th largest transit agency in the United States, she is responsible for a 400 member police and civilian Police Department that provides security for multiple facilities, stations, and buses throughout 32 local law enforcement jurisdictions.
Chief Dunham has made history four times during her career with the MARTA Police Department:
- First female to achieve the rank of Captain
- First female to achieve the rank of Major
- First African-American and the first female Assistant Chief in the history of the Department and
- In 2006, she made history again by being appointed as the first female and African-American Chief of Police
Chief Dunham earned her BS degree in Criminal Justice from Jacksonville State University and earned her Masters in Public Administration from Columbus State University, receiving academic honors at both institutions. Chief Dunham also successfully completed the Georgia Association of Chief of Police Command College, as well as, Chief’s Executive Training.
Chief Dunham has numerous professional affiliations and serves on many law enforcement and transportation executive committees.
Chief Dunham has received several awards during her tenure with the MARTA Police Department to include The MARTA’s YWCA Woman of Achievement Award, The National Women in Policing “Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award,” Community Service Award given by the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Inc., the 2013 Diversity Leadership Award given by the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS-Atlanta), the Atlanta Business Leagues’ 100 Black Women of Influence Award in 2015, and the Atlanta Tribune’s 2015 Women to Watch.
Chief Dunham is married to her wonderful husband, Dwight, and they have a 21 year old son, Jordan.