The Chula Vista City Council has unanimously selected Maria Kachadoorian as the next City Manager.
Kachadoorian is the first woman and first Latina to serve as City Manager of San Diego County’s second largest City.
“Maria has the knowledge, skills and vision we need to move the City forward during these unprecedented times,” said Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas. “She brings to this critical position strong leadership skills, municipal finance acumen, and a passionate commitment to foster positive relationships with employees, residents, as well as with elected, business and community leaders.”
Kachadoorian has worked at the City of Chula Vista for 22 years, starting in the finance department and serving as its director, before becoming deputy and then assistant city manager. In a statement from the city this week, Kachadoorian was praised for her strong finance background which helped lead the City through the Great Recession and which could be instrumental in implementing innovative strategies to mitigate the financial, economic and community impacts to the city and residents from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The current city manager, Gary Halbert, is retiring June 19. Halbert has been with the City since 2008 and has served as assistant city manager and director of development services. Previously, he was assistant city manager in Santee and before that served for more than 20 years at the City of San Diego.
Kachadoorian is a long-time resident of South County and lives in Chula Vista. She was born in Tijuana and immigrated to the United States as an infant. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with an emphasis in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University. She also is a Certified Public Accountant. As a Chula Vista Rotarian, she has volunteered on many projects benefiting the Chula Vista community.
