Raja Sethuraman joined City of Costa Mesa in March 2000 as an Associate Engineer. In May 2008, Mr. Sethuraman was promoted to Transportation Services Manager and subsequently to the current position as Public Works Director in October 2016. Mr. Sethuraman, a Civil Engineer, has over 32 years of public and private sector experience. He currently manages a department with over 75 employees with an annual budget of over $50 million in operations and capital improvements. He oversees four divisions – Engineering, Energy & Sustainability, Transportation and Maintenance.

Under the leadership of Mr. Sethuraman, Costa Mesa Public Works Department has won numerous awards, including the recognition of Costa Mesa as the only LEED Gold Certified City in Orange County. Other major projects completed under Mr. Sethuraman’s leadership include the new Donald Dungan Library, Norma Hertzog Community Center and Fire Station 1. These facilities, which are LEED Gold Certified, have won several awards from industry peers. Mr. Sethuraman and his team have also embarked on several Active Transportation projects in Costa Mesa aimed at providing a more sustainable and inclusive community.

Mr. Sethuraman received his Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and Bachelor’s Degree from Osmania University, India.