Savannah City Council today unanimously selected a public administrator with more than 25 years of local government management experience to be Savannah’s next City Manager.

“I am confident that we’ve got the right man in the right job,” Mayor Eddie DeLoach said. “I look forward to working with Rob to accomplish great things for Savannah.”

During a Thursday afternoon news conference, Roberto “Rob” Hernandez thanked Council for placing its confidence in him to lead an organization of nearly 2,600 individuals and a $363 million annual budget.

“I am deeply honored and humbled by Council’s vote today,” Hernandez said. “I intend to be in Savannah for a long time. The history, the people, the neighborhoods, the strong economic foundation – Savannah has all the ingredients for continued growth and vibrancy. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?”

Hernandez plans to begin as City Manager on Oct. 10. He currently serves as Deputy County Administrator of Broward County, Fla. He has served as Deputy City Manager of Coral Springs, Fla.; Deputy County Manager of Fulton County, Ga.; and Assistant to the County Administrator of Broward County. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1983-2008.

He said first up on his list of priorities is development of a long-range strategic plan for Savannah.

“We need to make sure this organization is moving forward, and has clear direction,” Hernandez said. “I can’t wait to get started.”

Rob Hernandez Resume Summary

EDUCATION

· Master of Public Administration: Nova Southeastern University; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

· Army Instructor Training Course: U. S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School; Fort Bragg, North Carolina

· Bachelor of Public Administration: Florida International University, Miami, Florida

· Essentials of Firefighting: Broward Fire Academy; Fort Lauderdale, Florida

· Civil Affairs Course (Civil-Military Operations): U. S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School; Fort Bragg, North Carolina

EXPERIENCE

· Deputy County Administrator; Broward County, FL 2013 – Present

· Deputy City Manager; Coral Springs, FL 2011 – 2013

· Deputy County Manager; Fulton County, GA 2008 – 2011

· Broward County, FL 1994 – 2008
Assistant to the County Administrator (five years), Assistant to
Department Director (seven years), and Urban Affairs Specialist /
Housing Resource Coordinator (two years)

· Commercial Revitalization Coordinator, Homestead, FL 1994

· Civil Affairs Specialist /Instructor/Course Writer, United States Army Reserve 1983 – 2008

BACKGROUND

Broward County, Florida is a large, urban county located in southeast Florida. With a population just shy of 1.9 million residents, it is the second most populous county in the state, and the 18th most populous in the United States. The county consists of more than 1,000 square miles; however, two thirds of the county are conservation areas of the Florida Everglades. The remaining 435 square miles is home to 31 municipalities and unincorporated neighborhoods. The county’s governing body consists of nine members elected from single-member districts, and provides services ranging from animal care to zoning, buses to butterflies. Operating under a Commission/Manager form of government, Broward County government, excluding the constitutional officers, employs 5,989 full-time employees.

As the deputy county administrator, I assist in overseeing 29 of 57 business units. Directly under my supervision are ten agency directors (Human Services, Public Works, Environmental Protection and Growth Management, Parks and Recreation, Libraries, Cultural, Medical Examiner and Trauma Services, Public Communications, Intergovernmental Affairs and Professional Standards, and Economic and Small Business Development), one administrative assistant, and one part-time special projects coordinator. The County’s current general fund budget is more than $1.1 billion, or $4.2 billion in total.