Dover Department of Public Works Director Kevin McCabe was awarded the 2026 Pakpour Consulting Group Young Leader of the Year Award from the American Public Works Association. (Image Courtesy Town of Dover)
DOVER — The Town of Dover is pleased to share that Department of Public Works Director Kevin McCabe has received the American Public Works Association’s 2026 Pakpour Consulting Group Young Leader of the Year Award.
McCabe received the award at APWA’s Public Works Expo, held Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 in Houston. The award recognizes young members who have shown leadership, contributed to their communities and the public works profession and demonstrated a commitment to continued growth.
To be eligible for the award, candidates must be members of APWA in good standing for five consecutive years and not exceed 35 years of age.
“The APWA Young Leader of the Year Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate that leadership in public works is defined by commitment, initiative, and vision — not tenure alone. Kevin embodies this principle,” according to a statement from APWA. “As an engaged APWA member and municipal leader, he has quickly emerged as a trusted advocate for the profession, applying best practices, mentoring peers and delivering measurable value to his community.”
McCabe became Dover’s first director of public works when he was appointed in 2022.
He previously served as director of operations for the Town of Sudbury and has worked in the public sector since 2016. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology.
During his time as Dover’s DPW Director, McCabe has initiated and completed many impactful operational changes, including the consolidation of Dover’s departments of Administration, Highway, Water, Transfer Station, and Cemetery/Parks & Trees into a single, consolidated Department of Public Works.
Additionally, McCabe has taken on the role of Tree Warden for the community. In that capacity, McCabe has been instrumental in advancing urban forestry and environmental education, partnering with Chickering Elementary School and the Dover Tree Preservation Committee to lead a tree planting and seedling distribution program, along with an annual Arbor Day celebration.
An active member of APWA’s New England Chapter and recipient of the chapter’s 2022 Young Leader Award, when McCabe arrived in Dover he introduced a fleet management program, a maintenance plan and standards for determining when vehicles should be replaced. The town has since updated equipment used for snow removal and other DPW work, improving reliability and reducing emergency repair costs.
McCabe has also secured both grant and outside funding, modernizing town operations while helping to accomplish several important projects, including the design of the Centre Street/Central Avenue Bridge Project, which is now underway in coordination with the neighboring Town of Needham. By securing federal funding, McCabe advanced a $13 million project that will improve public safety, emergency access, climate resilience, and multimodal connectivity, creating a key pedestrian and bicycle link between regional trail networks.
“I’m honored to receive this award. Thank you very much to all my colleagues and fellow members of the APWA for making this possible,” said McCabe. “I look forward to continuing our work to help improve the quality of life for all residents of Dover.”
Town Administrator Michael Blanchard applauded McCabe for earning APWA’s Young Leader of the Year Award.
“Congratulations to our DPW Director Kevin McCabe for this well-deserved recognition,” said Town Administrator Michael Blanchard. “He is constantly working to ensure that public works and public works professionals represent the highest standard possible. Kevin is a model public servant and a leader among his peers. He is a strong advocate for public works and APWA.”
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