Sunnyvale has appointed its next director of public works, bringing in a veteran public works leader from the state of Washington to oversee its infrastructure and utility operations, city officials said.
City Manager Tim Kirby announced Wednesday that Aaron Bert will begin the role on July 20, according to Sunnyvale’s public information office on Tuesday. His starting annual salary will be $360,000.
Bert has more than 30 years of experience in public sector leadership and currently serves as public works director for the City of Redmond, Washington, where he oversees water, wastewater, stormwater, transportation, fleet management and civil engineering.
“Aaron brings a rare combination of technical depth, diverse capital program and operational management experience, and a people-first leadership philosophy that aligns perfectly with Sunnyvale’s culture,” Kirby said.
Before joining Redmond, Bert held several management positions with the City of Seattle and previously worked as a legislative aide for Washington state counties and the Washington State Legislature.
He retired in 2025 as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve after 32 years of service. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Seattle University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Washington University.