The City of Mesquite has promoted Raymond Rivas III to Deputy City Manager.
Rivas, who started the new position on March 1, is an Assistant City Manager with the City of Mesquite overseeing Neighborhood Services, Public Works, Neighborhood Services, Grants Compliance, Solid Waste and Equipment Services, and Planning and Development.
He will continue to oversee these departments as Deputy City Manager. This new role also more clearly defines the chain of command in the City Manager’s office.
Raymond Rivas III (City of Mesquite)
“Raymond Rivas has demonstrated exceptional leadership and management skills in every role he has held with the City,” said City Manager Cliff Keheley. “He has a great understanding of the organization and how to meet our mission of serving the community.”
Rivas has more than 20 years of experience in crisis management, emergency management and city administration. He came to the City of Mesquite in 2011.
Before he was an Assistant City Manager, Rivas was the Neighborhood Services Director and Emergency Manager Coordinator. He served as an Emergency Management Specialist for the City of Dallas and as an Emergency Management Officer for the City of Fort Worth. Rivas started his career as an Emergency Management Specialist for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Rivas earned a bachelor’s degree in emergency administration and planning from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Texas at Dallas. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program.
Rivas’s professional awards and honors include the National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award in 2020, Leadership North Texas (Class 11), membership in Pi Alpha Alpha and earning the rank of Eagle Scout in 1996.
He is an active member of the Mesquite Rotary Club, Mesquite Independent School District Education Foundation board, Mesquite Chamber of Commerce board and Scouts BSA Rising Sun District.