Chandler City Manager John Pombier has announced the appointment of Jeremy Abbott as the city’s Public Works & Utilities Director.

Abbott brings more than 25 years of municipal leadership, civil engineering and water resources experience to the position, according to a news release.

Abbott, who joined the city in 2022 as the Public Works & Utilities assistant director, had been serving as the interim director since about the time John Knudson retired in September.

Abbott’s role as the assistant involved providing oversight and leadership to more than 300 employees who fulfill the operational functions of the department, the release states. In that role, he optimized and enhanced the $1.4 billion capital improvement program related to the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure.

Pombier, in the release, stated Abbott brings a “breadth” of people leadership skills and experience in water resources, engineering and project management.

“Jeremy has been instrumental in creating stability in our public works and utility services through proactive investments in the city’s infrastructure and operational efficiencies,” Pombier stated.

Prior to joining Chandler, Abbott served three years as public works assistant director at the city of Avondale. He worked for 17 years in Lake Havasu City, where his roles included project manager and assistant city engineer.

Abbott is a registered professional engineer, a certified water and wastewater operator and a certified public manager. He earned his master’s degree in environmental and resource management with a concentration on water resources from the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University.

Abbott also holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering and public affairs.

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