Noel Bernal

Noel Bernal is a public servant with over two decades of experience in local government management. Noel currently serves as a board member for the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTA).

Prior to their current position, Noel served as the city manager for the City of Brownsville, Texas from November 2018 to August 2022. As city manager, Noel was responsible for providing leadership and management for the 18th largest city in Texas, and the largest in the Rio Grande Valley. Under Noel's leadership, the city experienced significant financial growth and development, including the expansion of the Brownsville-South Padre Island Airport Terminal and the creation of a NewSpace City.

Noel is committed to improving the quality of life for all citizens and has been instrumental in developing a 428-mile regional trails network and $90 million public/private community broadband investment. Noel is a strong advocate for employee-centric, High-Performance Organizational (HPO) cultures and has successfully repositioned Brownsville's financial framework for fiscal sustainability and leveraging of opportunities being created by transformative public and private investments.

Noel Bernal has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from The University of Texas-Pan American, a Master of Public Administration in Local Government Management and Public Financial Management from The University of Texas-Pan American, and a Senior Executive Institute (SEI) from the University of Virginia. Noel also has certification from SMU Cox School of Business in Building the Intelligent Enterprise, Prosci in Certified Change Management Practitioner, Texas Tech University in Certificate in Public Finance, ICMA - International City/County Management Association in ICMA - Credentialed City Manager (ICMA-CM), Texas State University in Certified Public Manager (CPM), and University of the Incarnate Word in Utility Management Institute (UMI).