The Carlsbad City Council has named Geoff Patnoe, the city’s current assistant city manager and an over 20-year veteran of local government, to be Carlsbad’s next city manager, starting Dec. 19.
Current City Manager Scott Chadwick announced Nov. 21 that he will leave to become President and CEO of the Port of San Diego.
Patnoe joined the City of Carlsbad as assistant city manager in March 2020, immediately helping to navigate Carlsbad’s response to the COVID pandemic. In 2022 he led the city’s traffic safety efforts after a 200% increase in bike collisions prompted the city to declare a local emergency. A year later, injury collisions involving e-bikes were down 18%.
“We’ve seen Geoff in action and have been impressed by his strategic thinking and leadership,” said Carlsbad Mayor Keith Blackburn. “In Geoff, we get continuity for the organization while tapping into his legislative background and experience overseeing the prudent use of taxpayer resources.”
In all, Patnoe has over 20 years of local government experience. Prior to joining Carlsbad, he worked for 10 years as the Director of the Office of Strategy & Intergovernmental Affairs for the County of San Diego. As a member of the county’s executive team, he worked on major policy initiatives involving local, state and federal agencies. Before that, he spent five years as Chief of Staff to a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Other experience includes serving as Executive Director of the San Diego County Taxpayers Association, a non-profit dedicated to government efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
“I am deeply honored to be entrusted with the role of city manager and to continue to serve this incredible community,” said Patnoe. “We have a great team in place, and together we will work hard every day to deliver an exceptional level of service to our residents and businesses.”
Patnoe is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with a degree in political science and public service. A self-proclaimed soccer dad, he and his wife, Christine, live in Rancho Peñasquitos and have two daughters, one in high school and one in college.
