Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke, P.E.

Jerrel Kruschke is the current Commissioner of Public Works for the City of Milwaukee. As Commissioner, he heads the Department of Public Works with an annual operating budget of $329 million and more than 2,000 employees in four divisions: Administrative Services, Infrastructure Services, Operations and Water (Milwaukee Water Works). With more 20 years’ experience in construction and management, Jerrel most recently served as Interim Commissioner of Public Works until Mayor Cavalier Johnson selected him for the permanent role on September 1, 2022, and later unanimously confirmed by the Common Council.

He first joined the Mayor’s Cabinet in January 2021, upon his appointment as City Engineer by then-Mayor Tom Barrett. As City Engineer, he led the Infrastructure Services Division which includes local road construction, multimodal transportation, the city parks division (MKE Parks), street lighting, environmental engineering, and facilities management for city properties including City Hall. Jerrel previously served as Public Works Coordination Manager for the City of Milwaukee, where he oversaw public works permitting and managed public works aspects of special projects. First coming to the City of Milwaukee DPW in 2007, Jerrel’s career also includes positions as Street Services Manager, Structural Design Manager, Central Drafting and Records Manager and Structural Design Project Manager. 

Commissioner Kruschke currently serves on Menomonee Valley Partners Board of Directors and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Wisconsin. A proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Jerrel earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering after years of part-time studies as he transitioned from a successful career in the trades as a carpenter.