Chino Hills City Manager Benjamin Montgomery has announced that he plans to retire in March 2026, concluding more than 20 years of dedicated service to the City of Chino Hills and a distinguished 35-year career in local government. Mr. Montgomery was appointed as Chino Hills City Manager in April 2019, following a steady progression of leadership roles within the organization. He first joined the City in 2006 as Neighborhood Services Manager, transitioned to the City Manager’s Office as Assistant to the City Manager in 2014, was promoted to Deputy City Manager in 2015, Assistant City Manager in 2017, and was appointed to City Manager by the City Council in 2019.

Throughout his career, Mr. Montgomery served communities across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino counties, bringing a deep understanding of municipal operations, regional partnerships, and community-focused governance. In Chino Hills, he has been instrumental in leading a variety of programs, departments, and divisions including community relations, emergency management, code enforcement, water conservation, information technology, human resources, and has overseen major service contracts including solid waste, risk management, public safety, and animal care and control.

During his tenure as City Manager, Mr. Montgomery provided steady leadership through some of the most complex and challenging periods in the City’s history. Major accomplishments in Chino Hills include:

  • Maintained long-term fiscal responsibility, navigating economic uncertainty while preserving essential services and quality of life;
  • Guided the City through emergency response and recovery efforts during the Blue Ridge Fire, working closely with public safety and regional partners to protect lives, property, and open space;
  • Oversaw City operations and continuity of services during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic;
  • Led a comprehensive response and recovery effort following the City Hall fire and subsequent water damage, ensuring uninterrupted public services;
  • Reinvested in community parks and recreational amenities such as the
    $10.1M Community Park rehabilitation and inclusive playground at Crossroads Park;
  • Enhanced wildfire safety and emergency preparedness, including securing over half a million dollars in federal funding for weed abatement, the City’s first Heli-hydrant station, and facilitating the agreement for the City’s fourth fire station;
  • Initiated the City’s first Goal Setting Workshop, working alongside the City Council to establish long-term strategic goals guided by community input;
  • Led the Peyton Corridor improvements, managing community, business, and neighborhood impacts of a significant transit project;
  • Served as Executive Director and staff of the Tres Hermanos Conservation Authority alongside the Board of Directors to preserve and protect the shared open space;
  • Navigated complex state housing mandates, ensuring Chino Hills remained compliant while protecting open space, hillsides, and community character and values;
  • Expanded the City’s response to homelessness with the City’s first homeless services partnership, strengthening outreach, coordination, and access to services;
  • Invested millions to advance major infrastructure projects, including major street rehabilitations, expansion of the City’s recycled water system, and the construction of the 1,2,3-TCP water treatment facility to protect drinking water;
  • Remained an involved member of the community as an active member of the Chino Valley YMCA Board of Managers and Rancho del Chino Rotary Club;
  • Was recognized by his colleagues as Employee of the Year in 2015.

Beyond his many operational and policy accomplishments, Mr. Montgomery is widely recognized within the organization for his commitment to mentoring and developing public service professionals, as well as his commitment to his own continued education. Throughout his tenure, he emphasized professional growth and empowered staff at all levels of their career to advance their skills. He is widely respected for his collaborative leadership style, deep institutional knowledge, commitment to transparency, and for working closely with the City Council, staff, and community to uphold the City’s high quality of life and culture.

“Ben’s leadership has left a lasting mark on our City,” said Chino Hills Mayor Brian Johsz. “He guided Chino Hills through extraordinary challenges with professionalism and integrity. While his departure is a significant loss for our community, we fully support his decision as he enters this next chapter in life and are grateful for his decades of service to our community.”

In reflecting on his decision, Mr. Montgomery shared, “Serving the City of Chino Hills and this community has been the greatest honor of my career. I am incredibly proud of the work accomplished alongside the City Council and our dedicated staff, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me by this community. As I prepare for the next chapter, I do so knowing the City is resilient, well-managed, and positioned for continued success.”

Mr. Montgomery will continue to serve as City Manager through March 2026 to support a smooth and thoughtful leadership transition. The Chino Hills City Council will discuss the selection process for his successor during a closed session at its January 13 meeting.