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John Thomas Appointed San Francisco City Engineer

For immediate release: June 16, 2017

Contact: Rachel Gordon, 415-554-6045

 

JOHN THOMAS APPOINTED SAN FRANCISCO CITY ENGINEER

San Francisco, CA – Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru today named John Thomas as the new City Engineer and deputy director for infrastructure.

Born and raised in San Francisco, Thomas graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in civil engineering. He joined Public Works in 1987 as a design engineer and worked his way up the ranks. He most recently served as manager for the Project Management and Construction Division, with a project portfolio totaling more than $100 million.

He manages delivery of the voter-backed 2011 Road Repaving and Street Safety Bond, which has resulted in the resurfacing of more than 3,900 blocks over the last five years and the construction of transformative streetscape improvement projects that have made such corridors as Castro Street, Taraval Street and Bartlett Street safer, greener and more inviting.

During his 30-year career with the City, Thomas also had stints with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and San Francisco International Airport. He served as project manager on major infrastructure undertakings, among them the rebuild of Laguna Honda Hospital, the Third Street Light Rail Project, the Central Subway and the replacement of the elevated Embarcadero Freeway, which was badly damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The new ground-level boulevard brought sunlight and vibrancy to the central waterfront.

“John Thomas brings vision, good instincts and a deep well of experience to the job of City Engineer at a critical time when San Francisco is undergoing a burst of growth with new challenges and demands,” Nuru said. “He knows what it takes to ensure our infrastructure remains resilient and keeps in step with a dynamic 21st-century city.”

As deputy director for infrastructure, Thomas oversees specialized engineering and support teams that design sewers, streets, curb ramps, bridges and electrical systems; stabilize hillsides; and control flooding, as well as work on a variety of other projects integral to the functioning of a modern city. His division also includes the permits bureau, street inspections and mapping.

“It is an incredible honor and opportunity to serve as San Francisco City Engineer and to work with a dedicated team of accomplished professionals,” Thomas said. “We are committed to delivering quality projects that meet not only the needs of today’s San Francisco, but also the needs of future generations.”

About San Francisco Public Works: The 24/7 City agency cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and nurtures City-maintained street trees; designs, constructs and maintains City-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; builds curb ramps; eradicates graffiti; partners with neighborhoods; trains people for jobs; greens the right of way; and educates our communities.

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Press Releases
Release Date
Friday, June 16, 2017