Roel "Roy" Rodriguez, who has a deep history with Texas city management and civil engineering, has been appointed by Governor Greg Abbott to the State Pension Review Board. Rodriguez, now retired from his role as the city manager for the City of McAllen, will begin his term on the board tasked with overseeing the actuarial soundness and state law compliance of Texas public retirement systems, the term is set to conclude on January 31, 2029, as confirmed by an announcement on the Office of the Texas Governor website.
With professional roots that delve deeply into the civic engineering and administrative soil of Texas, Rodriguez's resume hints at a breadth of experience. He holds not only a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M – Kingsville but also a Master of Public Administration from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. His service includes, prior directorial roles at the Lower Rio Grande Water Committee and previous gubernatorial appointments to the Texas Municipal Retirement System Board of Trustees, where he twice held the title of chairman, between 2005 and 2018, as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.
This isn't Rodriguez's first foray into public service or advisory capacities. His involvement in statewide management groups is extensive, including membership in the Texas City Managers Association, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. According to the Office of the Texas Governor, Rodriguez also takes part in the South Texas College Public Administration Advisory Council and is president of Texas City Managers Association Region 10.
Outside his professional sphere, Rodriguez is active within his community as a member of his church, where he takes on "multiple roles" at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope Catholic Church, as mentioned by the Office of the Texas Governor. This balance of professional insight, public trust, combined with his community engagement, sets up Rodriguez as a potentially stabilizing figure for the State Pension Review Board, tasked with navigating the intricacies of public retirement systems in a state where such systems represent the livelihoods of countless retirees.
