For nearly thirty years, Dana Lloyd has shown up for Cherokee County long before the title, the headlines, or the history books took notice. She joined the Cherokee Sheriff's Office in 1997 as a Deputy, working her way steadily through the ranks to Major before stepping into leadership of the county's Public Services Agency. In 2024, she made history as Cherokee County's first female Chief Marshal, a milestone few outside her circle fully realized had happened. But if you ask the people who've worked alongside her, that's exactly the point. Dana has never been someone who sought the spotlight; she simply keeps serving, leading, and quietly opening doors for the women coming up behind her.
For nearly 30 years, Dana Martin's career has been inseparable from the place she calls home. Since joining the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office in 1997, she has built a career defined not by ambition or title, but by an unwavering commitment to the community that raised her.
"I was born and raised here; this is my hometown," Martin says. "My family lives here, my memories are here, and this community shaped the person I am today." Ask her to describe Cherokee County, and she doesn't reach for statistics or slogans — she reaches for memories. Her mother walking her to the library in downtown Woodstock, where Mrs. Johnston read to the neighborhood kids every summer. The gym at Etowah High School, still echoing with the wins and losses of her basketball days. Every mountain bike trail she's ridden, the boat slip she kept at Lake Allatoona for years, the outdoor YMCA camp where her own son once spent his summers. More recently, she finds herself driving through the Georgia National Cemetery, just to feel close to her father, laid to rest there almost a year ago.
"Serving Cherokee County has never been just a career choice," she says. "It's a commitment to the place and the people who mean the most to me."
In 2024, that commitment reached a new milestone when Martin became the first woman to serve as Cherokee County's Chief Marshal. It's a distinction she holds with humility, but also with purpose. "It felt like a recognition of the hard work, challenges, and determination that brought me here," she explains. More than anything, she hopes her appointment sends a message to the women who will come after her — to "step forward, take on difficult assignments, trust her voice, or envision herself in a position she once thought was out of reach." As Martin puts it: "You belong here. Your perspective, your instincts, and your leadership are not just welcome — they're needed." For her, being first matters less than making sure she isn't the last. "My hope is that leaders are chosen based on their character, their abilities, and their commitment to serving others."
Today, Martin's leadership extends far beyond the Marshal's Office. She oversees Emergency Management, 911, Radio Technology, the Animal Shelter, and Probation Services — a sprawling portfolio she's unified under the Public Services Agency, guided by a simple motto: Together We Thrive. "Each function has its own operational demands, yet they are all tied to one mission: protecting and supporting the wellbeing of our community," she says. Her approach starts with listening — understanding what each team needs to succeed, then working to strengthen communication across departments and remove barriers that could impede performance. "When teams are supported, empowered, and aligned with a shared mission, the quality of service elevates — and the community feels that difference every day."
It's a philosophy rooted in something Martin has practiced her entire career: leading without chasing the spotlight. "Leadership isn't about the spotlight — it's about the outcomes you enable for others," she says. When asked what she hopes her legacy will look like, she doesn't mention accolades. She talks about people. "I want people to say that I helped build strong, capable teams who felt cared for, supported, valued, and connected to a clear purpose." Above all, she hopes her impact is felt in the community itself, through service that continues to improve long after she's gone. "If future leaders inherit teams that are empowered, unified, and deeply committed to our mission, then I'll know my work made a lasting difference for Cherokee County."
Off the clock, Martin's world narrows to what matters most — family. The loss of her father a year ago sharpened her appreciation for time with loved ones, and she fills it with biking, hiking, and traveling. "Anything that lets me reset, enjoy nature, and recharge," she says. It's a fitting rhythm for a leader whose entire career has been about balance: strength paired with humility, authority paired with service, and a hometown loyalty that has never wavered.