City of Riverside Names Nathan Mustafa Director of Public Works

Published: 5/19/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 19, 2026

Contact:

Phil Pitchford

Public Information Officer

951-826-5975

[email protected]

City of Riverside Names Nathan Mustafa Director of Public Works

15 years of public and private experience informs his dedication to the improvement and maintenance of public infrastructure

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The City of Riverside has named Nathan Mustafa as Public Works Director, a post that oversees several facets of City government that directly impact residents and business owners, including streets, traffic, trash and recycling, parking, and tree trimming.

City Manager Mike Futrell chose Mustafa for the job after being impressed with his performance during the past five months as Interim Director. Mustafa started serving as Interim Director earlier this year when his predecessor, Gil Hernandez, promoted to Interim Assistant City Manager.

"Nathan is an outstanding professional and leader," Futrell said. "He has my full confidence in his ability to lead a fantastic Public Works Department and serve the people of Riverside."

Mustafa previously held the role of Deputy Public Works Director for both the Field Operations and Engineering sections of Public Works. In his new role, he will oversee the entire department's operations and more than 300 employees, including the operations of the City's Water Quality Control Plant.

Mustafa has worked for the City of Riverside for 13 years, starting as an Assistant Engineer in 2013. He is a licensed Civil and Traffic Engineer in the State of California and is a Certified Planner through the American Planning Association.

Mustafa has worked diligently to pursue new funding opportunities for the City and has contributed to securing more than $100 million in outside grant funds for City projects and initiatives. He is known for finding creative solutions to challenges. For example, the Public Works Department recently was awarded the "Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability Award" from the Southern California Association of Governments for its innovative Vehicle Miles Traveled Mitigation Bank program that helps facilitate new development while funding transportation improvements in Riverside.

"Nathan is a solutions-oriented public works professional who brings a great amount of knowledge and experience to this role," Futrell said. "His deep understanding of everything public works enables him to ensure our service to the public on the crucial issues that affect people in their lives."

Mustafa has played key roles in advancing the City's Pavement Management Program, securing new equipment for the Solid Waste division, collaborating to deliver the Northside Specific Plan, modernizing the Traffic Management Center, upgrading the City's Parking technology, and adopting the City's award-winning Active Transportation Master Plan & Complete Streets Ordinance.

The Public Works Department is currently administering several major projects including the Third Street Grade Separation, the Riverside Bioenergy Facility public-private-partnership, and the launch of the City's first online tree inventory.

Nathan previously worked in the private sector at Stantec consulting, where he had an opportunity to assist with a series of engineering efforts across the country. Mustafa earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly Pomona, and a Master's in Business Administration degree from Western Governors University.

"I am so grateful to work alongside a dedicated team of professionals and residents who care deeply about Riverside's neighborhoods," Mustafa said. "The sense of community and pride of place make Riverside a rewarding place to serve. I look forward to finding new ways to fund and implement public infrastructure enhancements, services and maintenance projects to better our city for years to come."