Long Beach aounces six key government appointments

City Manager Pat West on Friday aounced six appointments to key management positions in Long Beach.

The appointments include three department director positions, a deputy fire chief, a public affairs officer and the business operations manager for the Gas and Oil Department.

Gas and Oil Director

West named Robert Dowell as the city’s director of the Long Beach Gas and Oil Department. Dowell has 36 years of professional experience in both the gas and energy sectors. His appointment is effective in early April. Dowell currently is the vice president and general manager of Long Beach-based Warren E&P, Inc., which he joined in 2007. He eaed his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington in 1980.

Dowell replaces Chris Gaer, who resigned as director in September 2015 to become general manager of the Long Beach Water Department.

Public Works Director

Craig Beck becomes director of Public Works, effective Saturday. Beck has worked for the city since 1986 in fire, community development, development services and the Gas and Oil departments. He currently serves as the interim director of Public Works, overseeing 440 employees and a budget of $147 million.

Prior to his service as interim director, he was the business operations manager for Gas and Oil Department.

Interim Airport Director

Juan Lopez-Rios, the city’s current property services manager for Economic and Property Development, has been named as the interim airport director, effective April 2, after current Director Bryant Francis leaves for a position in Oakland.

Lopez-Rios has worked for the city since 2001. He has held management positions in Public Works and the Long Beach Airport, where he oversaw the airport’s ground leases, airline and ground transportation contracts and concessions, and assisted with plaing for the new parking structure and concourse, the sale of city bonds for the parking structure and the slot allocations for the start of passenger service for Allegiant and Frontier Airlines.

The city will conduct a nationwide recruitment for the next airport director.

Deputy Fire Chief

Fire Chief Mike DuRee has appointed Chris Rowe to the position of deputy fire chief, effective March 19. Rowe has worked for the city since 1985, serving as public safety dispatcher, firefighter, engineer, captain and battalion chief. He currently works as an assistant fire chief.

Rowe takes over for Dave Segura, who recently was appointed Huntington Beach’s fire chief. The city will be recruiting for a new assistant fire chief over the next few months.

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Public Affairs Officer

Kerry Gerot has been named the permanent public affairs officer in the office of the city manager, effective March 5. Gerot has worked for the city since 2011, and was most previously acting public affairs officer. She has also held a management position at Long Beach Airport, as well as having worked in the private sector, including producing and directing documentary material and PSAss; marketing plans for feature films in the entertainment and music industries; managing editor of a magazine; and public relations and visual communications for a myriad of clients.

Business Operations Bureau Manager

Tony Foster has been named Business Operations Bureau manager for Long Beach Gas and Oil, effective March 12. Foster has worked for the city since 2008, and is currently the acting manager for the Business Operations Bureau. He most previously was gas supply officer. Foster has also held management positions in development services, serving as a redevelopment project officer.

Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine

Marie Knight was named director of Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine on Feb. 19. She is currently the director of community services for the City of Orange, and will start her position in Long Beach on March 28.