Aram Chaparyan
The Torrance City Council has unanimously selected Torrance Assistant City Manager, Aram Chaparyan as Interim City Manager effective October 1, 2020. Chaparyan will serve as the interim CEO of a city whose population exceeds 146,000. As Interim City Manager he will oversee 10 departments and an employee base of over 1,500. The appointment follows the announced retirement at the end of September 2020 of Torrance City Manager, LeRoy J. Jackson, after 54 years of dedicated service.
Aram started his public sector journey as a Management Intern with the City Manager’s Office at the City of Torrance in 2001. Upon completion of his internship, Aram began working for the Torrance Transit Department as the Senior Business Manager. He promoted to Operations Manager and spent four years managing the daily operations of Torrance Transit. He joined the City Manager’s Team in 2007 as an Assistant to the City Manager and Chief Labor Negotiator and promoted to Deputy City Manager in 2017, responsible for collective bargaining agreements and implementing major citywide reorganizations.
Currently, as the Torrance Assistant City Manager, Aram is responsible for providing daily operational support and oversight including management of the workforce, land management, special projects, emergency management, talent development and labor relations. He is also responsible for managing the City’s Strategic Plan, and serves as city liaison to major city partners including the Del Amo Fashion Center, Torrance Refining Company, and Southern California Edison.
Throughout his career in public service, Aram has specialized in employee group negotiations, legislative issues, land management, economic development, budget, personnel matters, employee relations, labor relations, strategic plan, business development liaison, classification specifications, transportation issues, and City Council support. Chaparyan is a major proponent of talent management, organization readiness and building a solid bench to recruit and retain quality employees.
Aram received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California at Irvine, Masters of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local government program at Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government. Aram became an International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Credentialed Manager in 2020 which recognizes professional local government managers qualified by a combination of education and experience, adherence to high standards of integrity, and an assessed commitment to lifelong learning and professional development. Aram is also active with the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and the UC Irvine Alumni Association serving as a mentor, hosting students for externships and serving on career panels.
Torrance Mayor Patrick J. Furey stated, “Throughout his career Aram has invested extensively into our City. Time and time again he has risen to the occasion; most recently guiding our City’s Emergency Operations Center through the COVID19 Pandemic, maintaining essential services, implementing public health directives, and addressing the growing needs of our senior and at-risk community. Our residents, business community, and staff know him to be committed, resourceful, and innovative leader. He was groomed by our City’s best and I am confident he is prepared to take on this new role.”