The Orange County Sanitation District’s (OC San) Board of Directors has selected CWEA Member OC San’s Assistant General Manager Robert (Rob) Thompson as the next General Manager, effective February 10, 2023.
Thompson will replace James (Jim) D. Herberg who is set to retire on February 9, 2023, after a longstanding career at OC San. Herberg has been with OC San for more than 30 years and served as the General Manager since 2013.
Mr. Thompson was selected after an extensive national recruitment effort. “Rob understands the history of the agency and has demonstrated that he is the ideal candidate to continue leading OC San in a direction of innovation and progress,” stated OC San Board Chairman Chad P. Wanke. “The Board is extremely pleased with the decision and looks forward to working with Rob in his new capacity.”
Rob Thompson
Thompson has been with OC San for 27 years. As the Assistant General Manager, Rob currently oversees the Operations, Maintenance and Engineering Departments. He is extremely knowledgeable in the critical areas of OC San’s service delivery and will continue to lead OC San down a path of success.
Thompson came to OC San in 1995 as an Engineer in Operations and Maintenance. He has served in many capacities for OC San including Manager of the Process Controls Division to computerize the pump stations and treatment systems; Engineering Manager overseeing the instrumentation shops, electrical shops and power generation plants; and Engineering Manager overseeing Asset Management and Engineering Planning. He also served as the Director of Engineering overseeing OC San’s $2.7 billion Capital Improvement Program and Director of Operations and Maintenance.
“I am honored to be chosen as the next General Manager for OC San,” stated Rob Thompson. “Jim leaves behind a legacy of excellence and collaboration that I am excited to continue. With the support of the Board of Directors and our teams here at OC San, I am confident that I will be able to continue OC San’s trajectory as an industry leader while continuing to honor our mission to protect public health and the environment while reclaiming valuable resources.”
“I have had the good fortune to work with Rob for many years. I have seen him succeed in a variety of roles leading his teams through complex and challenging issues and I am confident I leave OC San in excellent hands,” stated OC San General Manager Jim Herberg.
Thompson is a registered Electrical Engineer and Civil Engineer in the State of California. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona, and a Master of Public Administration degree from Long Beach State. Rob is native to Orange County and currently lives with his family in Tustin.
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