Alamogordo City Manager Search Continues: Candidate David A. Vela Provides Detailed Responses on Experience, Brief Odessa Tenure, and Interest in the Position

As the City of Alamogordo’s search for a permanent city manager enters its latest phase, with executive session interviews scheduled this week for the remaining finalists, AlamogordoTownNews.org and KALHRadio.org reached out to the external applicants to promote transparency and give the public insight into their qualifications.

This outreach comes amid significant local public support for appointing Acting City Manager Dr. Stephanie Hernandez, who has served in interim and assistant capacities for a combined 27 months, earning recognition for her work on fiscal stability, performance-based budgeting, and operational continuity during a decade of high turnover, interim leadership, and candidate challenges.

One finalist, David A. Vela, ICMA-CM, responded comprehensively in writing to a series of questions. Vela previously served as city manager in Sweetwater, Texas (nearly nine years, from approximately 2016 to May 2025) and briefly in Odessa, Texas (June to October 2025). Below are his full, unedited responses, followed by additional context on the search.

Mr. Edwards and Mr. Lucero:

Thank you for reaching out for clarification on my past roles as city manager in Sweetwater and Odessa, Texas. I am happy to answer your questions to clarify my experience.

1. ATN:  Please tell us about the highlights and any controversies with your role in either Sweetwater or Odessa.

DAV: I came to Sweetwater after serving as Deputy City Manager in Abilene, Texas, for 9 1/2 years. Sweetwater is 30 minutes west of Abilene on Interstate 20, so I was already very familiar with the area. My greatest accomplishment in Sweetwater was professionalizing the staff, especially the director’s team. I worked to bring in the best staff I could and train them not only in their technical abilities but also in leadership. I am currently working toward my Doctorate in Strategic Leadership at Oral Roberts University, which I will complete in August of this year. My doctoral work in leadership equips me to work directly with staff to help them become the best, most outstanding leaders they can be. That will be my legacy in Sweetwater, and if I am named city manager in Alamogordo, that will be my legacy there, as well. There were no controversies in Sweetwater.

2. ATN: Please explain your short tenure at Odessa. Was there a payout of the remaining months of your contract?

DAV: I served as city manager in Odessa for five months, from June to October 2025. I had to resign for personal reasons related to serious family issues. It was an unfortunate series of events that led me back to Sweetwater, but those issues have been addressed, and I am ready to return to the workforce. I remained on the City of Odessa payroll for November and December, working remotely for the city. Beginning January 1st, I was paid a severance for the months of January through April 2026.

3. Do you have family or connections to Alamogordo?

DAV: I do not.

4. ATN Please explain why you are interested in Alamogordo.

DAV: I’m interested in Alamogordo because it represents the kind of community where leadership, stewardship, and long-term vision truly matter. Alamogordo has a proud history, a strong sense of identity, and a strategic role in southern New Mexico’s future—especially with its proximity to Holloman Air Force Base, White Sands, and the growing opportunities in aerospace, defense, and outdoor tourism. Professionally, I’ve spent more than two decades working in communities very similar in size, complexity, and character—places where smart growth, infrastructure investment, and fiscal discipline make a tangible difference in people’s daily lives. I’m drawn to communities that are at an inflection point, and Alamogordo is clearly there: balancing economic opportunity, quality of life, and responsible governance.

Personally, I value places where you can build trust, work closely with elected leaders and staff, and see the direct impact of good public service. Alamogordo feels like a city where experienced, steady leadership can help turn vision into action—and that’s exactly the kind of challenge I’m excited to take on.

5. ATN: Do you have any experience interfacing with the military in your prior roles? When what was accomplished if so?

DAV: I do. Dyess Air Force Base, located in Abilene, Texas, is an important part of the community. In my role as deputy and interim city manager, I constantly interfaced with Air Force leadership. We felt it was important to build and maintain relationships and keep the lines of communication open on a consistent basis. Dyess was such an important part of the community, not only from an economic standpoint but also because we were proud to have the base in our backyard. As city leaders, we wanted to do everything we could to let Air Force leadership know they were valued and respected as leaders in our community. I would bring the same level of attention and effort to Alamogordo, working with leadership at Holloman AFB to build trust, open lines of communication, and maintain relationships with their leadership team. My past experience in these efforts would prove valuable as the city manager of Alamogordo.

6. ATN:  The more successful city managers from the past had a good working and transparent relationship with our radio station KALHRadio.org and our news staff. What would you do as a CM to build that relationship?

DAV: I believe in proactive, transparent communication. As city manager, I would make myself and my team accessible, provide timely, accurate information, and treat KALH as a partner in keeping the community informed. That means regular briefings, clear explanations of decisions, and availability—not just when things are going well, but especially when issues are difficult. Trust is built through consistency, honesty, and respect, and that’s the approach I would take with your station and news staff.

7: ATN: Finally have you had any correspondence, meetings calls or interfacing with any member of the commission or outside groups such as the Builders Association, Chamber of Commerce, or any other business organizations in Alamogordo as a part of your due diligence. If so who and when?

DAV: I have not engaged in any private advocacy or campaigning with members of the commission or outside groups. My interactions have been limited to the formal recruitment and interview process. This position isn’t an election—it’s a professional appointment—and I believe the decision should be based on qualifications, experience, and fit. My resume, my interviews, and my track record in city management are what I want to stand on, and I’m comfortable letting that speak for itself.

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions. If there is anything else, please let me know.

Respectfully,

David A. Vela, ICMA-CM

The other finalist has not yet provides responses by press time. If and upon receipt of a response we will publish to ensure equal reporting. 

Interviews are proceeding in executive session, this week. The city manager role has experienced notable turnover over the past decade, including multiple interim periods, external searches, and complications such as a 2025 ethics investigation.

Public discussion continues to emphasize leadership stability, with many residents favoring continuity under Dr. Hernandez. The commission has not released a decision timeline following this week’s sessions.

AlamogordoTownNews.org will provide further updates as developments occur.

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