Mehmet Cahit Turhan was born in Trabzon in 1960. He graduated from Karadeniz Technical University’s Department of Civil Engineering in 1981, and received his Master’s Degree from the same university.

He started to work for the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) as engineer in 1985.

He worked as control engineer, office engineer and chief controller at the KGM. Starting from 1995, he worked for Istanbul 17th Regional Directorate of KGM as Highway Operation and Maintenance Chief Engineer, Highway Construction Chief Engineer, Deputy Regional Director and Regional Director.

After having served as Deputy Director-General of Highways, Turhan worked as Director- General of Highways between 2005 and 2015.

Having retired from this post, Turhan worked as a Senior Advisor to the Presidency and as a member of the Council of State. Following his retirement from the membership of the Council of State, he was appointed as the CEO of the consortium which undertook the construction of the North Marmara Motorway.

On July 9, 2018, Turhan was appointed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure which is responsible for all transport, information and communication services in Turkey.

Turhan is married with three children.