Special Assistant to the Commissioner
Rick Blalock, B.A.
In his 19th year of service, Rick Blalock holds the distinction of being the "Dean of Staff" among the six commission-district offices of Fulton County Government. He was first appointed special assistant to the commissioner in 2003, by the late Commissioner Emma I. Darnell, and was renominated by Commissioner Khadijah in January 2021. In his role as special assistant, Blalock is a senior advisor providing strategic advice and counsel to the Commissioner in critical areas, including communications, public-policy development, legislation, political and intergovernmental affairs. Blalock is a two-time Emmy-winning journalist, who before joining the Board of Commissioners staff, was a television broadcast reporter who broke the news stories of the massive federal probe of public corruption in the Fulton County Chairman's Office and in the Mayor's Office at Atlanta City Hall. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in journalism (summa cum laude) at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Blalock is a member of the Society for International Development; Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Director of Operations
Pamela Lyons-Johnson, MA, BS
Pamela Lyons-Johnson is the Director of Operations in the Mighty6 District Office. In her role, she "keeps the trains running on time." Appointed by Commissioner Khadijah in January 2021, Lyons ensures the smooth functioning of the day-to-day operations of the Office and also serves as the chief of scheduling and management of the Commissioner’s calendar. In addition, she also provides operational support to the Commissioner and serves as a District 6 Office liaison to constituents. An educator by trade, Lyons' career reflects 20 years experience in instruction and student support. She taught in the Cobb County Schools system and at her alma mater, Benjamin Mays High in the Atlanta Public Schools system. She earned a Master of Arts Degree at Cambridge College in Augusta, Ga., and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga. Lyons is married and a proud grandmother and mother of two adult sons.
Director of Administration and Community Affairs
Sequoia M. Kirby, MBA, BBA
Sequoia M. Kirby serves as Director of Administration and Community Affairs in the Office of the Commissioner. Appointed to her position by Commissioner Khadijah in January 2022, she provides operational support to the Commissioner and is the District 6 Office liaison to constituents and community stakeholders. Kirby joined Fulton County Government in 2019 serving in the Office of the Commissioner for Commission District 4. Previously she was a paralegal in a metro Atlanta law firm. She holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from Southern New Hampshire University and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration at Valdosta State University.
Executive Assistant to the Commissioner
Loretta L. Lewis, B.S.
Serving as the Mighty6 District’s “director of first impressions,” Loretta Lewis is the executive assistant to the commissioner. Appointed in January 2021 by Commissioner Khadijah, Lewis provides constituent services; office management; and handles special operations including advance, transportation and executive-protection services. Lewis retired from the U.S. Army after 13 years of service and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in early childhood education from USC Coastal Carolina College, (now Coastal Carolina University) in Conway, S.C. Previously, she spent time in the classroom as an elementary school teacher in Conway and also taught life skills to challenged adults through the DeKalb County Community Services Board.