This Black History Month, we celebrate Carmen E. Turner, a trailblazing visionary who broke barriers and made a lasting impact in public transit. In 1983, Turner made history by becoming the first African American woman to lead a major public transportation authority in the United States.

From the Beginning

Carmen grew up in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., during the 1930s, a time when segregation and discrimination were at an all-time high. Even so, this didn’t stop Carmen. In 1968, she earned her bachelor's degree in government from Howard University. Four years later, she received her master's degree in administration from American University.

Rising Star

She began her government service as a typist in 1974 for the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). Through hard work and dedication, she quickly advanced, becoming the acting director of civil rights just two years later. However, her ambitions didn’t stop there. In 1974, she left USDOT and joined the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) as chief of administration. In 1983, she was promoted to general manager, making her the first African American woman to lead a major U.S. transit agency.

Her Legacy

As general manager of WMATA, Turner remained committed to advocating for diversity and inclusion while expanding the Metro to serve more people in the community. Her leadership and dedication were recognized when WMATA was named the country’s best public transportation system by the American Public Transit Association in 1988.

Her journey is an inspiring tale of resilience, determination, and a relentless commitment to breaking social norms and advocating for equality.