Office of Intergovernmental & External Affairs
Connecting DeKalb.
Advancing Our Future.
Office of Intergovernmental & External Affairs
Building partnerships that strengthen communities, advance policy, and create lasting impact across DeKalb County — from City Hall to Capitol Hill.
Martha Revelo Ms. Revelo serves as the first Chief of Intergovernmental Affairs for DeKalb County, where she leads the county’s efforts to strengthen collaboration and coordination across federal, state, regional, and local governments. In this role, she develops and executes legislative strategies, advocates for city-county collaborative initiatives, and serves as the county’s primary liaison with municipal, state, and federal officials to ensure DeKalb’s priorities are represented in key policy discussions. She also serves as the official representative of the Intergovernmental Affairs Department, partnering with DeKalb’s municipalities to navigate legislative challenges, enhance intergovernmental relations, and coordinate regional policy initiatives.
Martha brings a unique, comprehensive perspective to her work, having held impactful roles at every level of government. Prior to joining DeKalb County, she was Associate Director for Government Affairs at the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG), where she represented over 800 county commissioners across Georgia’s 159 counties. She led policy efforts on economic development, transportation, natural resources, and federal issues successfully securing $250 million in additional state funding for local infrastructure for two consecutive years and spearheading reforms to the Single-County TSPLOST law.
At the federal level, Martha served as Northeast Outreach Director for U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, making history as the first Latina to hold this position for a U.S. Senator from Georgia. In that role, she advocated for local priorities in Washington, D.C., and built strong relationships between Georgia communities and federal agencies. Her efforts led to the first and second federally directed spending earmarks totaling over $1 million for the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Ser Familia, marking a historic milestone for Georgia’s Hispanic community.
An Atlanta native and the proud daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, Martha has built a career centered on public service and community advocacy. Her leadership extends to several key boards and advisory councils, including the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board. She has previously served on the Georgia Transportation Alliance, the Georgia Tollway Authority (GTA) Advisory Board, and as a local representative for the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), where she provided strategic guidance on federal transportation policy.
Her impact has been widely recognized. She has been named one of Georgia’s 50 Most Influential Latinos for three consecutive years and honored with a “Martha Revelo Appreciation Day” by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. The Georgia State House of Representatives commended her leadership, and she was named a Georgia State University “40 Under 40” honoree.
Martha holds both master’s and bachelor’s degrees in political science from Georgia State University, specializing in Professional, International, and Intergovernmental Politics. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and their two dogs.
Six Areas of Strategic LeadershipThe Office of Intergovernmental & External Affairs is DeKalb County's central hub for collaboration — spanning every level of government and every sector of the community.
Government Relations
Serving as the County's primary liaison with municipal, regional, state, and federal governments to strengthen partnerships and advocate for DeKalb's priorities.
External Partnerships
Building strategic relationships with businesses, nonprofits, universities, chambers of commerce, healthcare systems, and community stakeholders to expand opportunity.
Legislative Affairs
Developing and advancing the County's legislative agenda while monitoring state and federal policy and coordinating advocacy efforts on behalf of DeKalb residents.
Regional Collaboration
Leading multi-jurisdictional initiatives by working alongside neighboring governments, regional commissions, and transportation agencies to address shared challenges.
Community Engagement
Creating meaningful opportunities for residents, community organizations, and civic leaders to engage with County initiatives through collaboration and outreach.
Strategic Initiatives
Managing executive-level projects requiring cross-sector coordination, innovation, and long-term planning to advance DeKalb County's strategic priorities.
How We Work
Six principles that shape every partnership, every conversation, and every initiative we lead on behalf of DeKalb County.
Collaboration
Lasting solutions are built through partnership, not in isolation.
Excellence
We deliver exceptional service, professionalism, and measurable results.
Innovation
We seek creative approaches to complex public challenges.
Transparency
We foster trust through open communication and accountability.
Leadership
We proactively bring people together to solve regional challenges.
Service
Every partnership exists to improve outcomes for DeKalb residents.