City of Pasadena logoCity Manager Miguel Márquez has selected Manuel Carmona to be the next Director of Public Health with the City of Pasadena effective Monday, January 27, 2025. Carmona will oversee a department with 115 full-time employees and an annual budget of $21.1 million.

Carmona brings nearly two decades of diverse experience in public health and municipal operations, including ten years as a leader within the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD), making him uniquely qualified to lead PPHD into the future.

Carmona has served as Acting Director of Public Health since 2022, and as Deputy Director of Public Health since January 2020, leading the department during the recent Eaton Fire emergency response and COVID-19 pandemic response. Under his leadership, critical community programs were developed and sustained in the areas of violence intervention as well as maternal, adolescent, and child health. During his time as Acting Director, the department completed the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan and 2023-2028 Community Health Improvement Plan, and achieved reaccreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board.

Carmona first joined the PPHD in 2014 as a Management Analyst, where he managed the Administration and Finance Division. Prior to his time in Pasadena, he worked in cities of varying sizes in a wide range of municipal operations, including human resources, economic development, code enforcement, and parks and recreation.

“Public health services are essential for identifying, understanding, and addressing population health needs. I am honored and grateful for the trust the City Manager has in me to lead the department. I am excited to continue leading the talented and mission-driven staff of over 100 Pasadena Public Health Department employees who work tirelessly to protect and advance equitable health outcomes for the Pasadena community,” said Carmona.

Carmona has a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Washington and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Community & Regional Development from the University of California, Davis.

A proud native of the San Gabriel Valley, Carmona is an Altadena resident with his wife and two children. In his free time, he enjoys camping, hiking, fishing, and cheering on his favorite sports teams.

The City of Pasadena welcomes Manuel Carmona to his new role as Director of Public Health and looks forward to the continued excellence and innovation he will bring to the department and the community.

“Manuel Carmona is an outstanding leader for our Public Health Department,” said City Manager Miguel Márquez. “He brings a wealth of experience, having played a pivotal role in the recent wildfire response and advancing vital community programs. Manuel is a strategic thinker with a deep commitment to health equity, collaboration, and innovation. I am confident he will engage with both our community and his team to develop creative and impactful solutions for the City of Pasadena.”