Press Release: Gary Milliman is New Talent City Manager

Congratulations to Gary Milliman and the City of Talent!

CITY OF TALENT WELOMES NEW CITY MANAGER

The City of Talent has announced the appointment of Gary Milliman as permanent City Manager effective January 2, 2024.

Milliman comes to Talent with over 40 years of experience in local government management and public affairs, including having served as permanent City Manager in four cities ranging in population from 2,800 to 105,000.  He also served as City Manager Pro Tem in Ashland in 2021.

Since retiring after 11 years as Brookings City Manager, Milliman has served in various local government roles, including as a Senior Advisor with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), as a Senior Fellow with the Center for Public Service at Portland State University, a City Councilor, and as a Municipal Court Judge in seven rural Oregon cities.

Milliman is the recipient of the 2012 ICMA Award for Career Excellence and the 2019 League of Oregon Cities Herman Kehrli Award for “exceptional contributions to city government.”  He is an ICMA Credentialed City Manager and Life Member.

At the January 3, 2004, City Council meeting Mayor Darby Ayers-Flood commented to Milliman that the 20 reference check responses received were “A great showing of support for your lifetime work and confidence in your work with us here in Talent.”

Outside of local government, Milliman’s professional experience has included managing a railroad, serving as a disaster management reservist with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for 18 years, as an executive recruiter and economic development consultant, and as editor of a community newspaper.

Milliman received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, a bachelor’s degree in journalism from California State College at Los Angeles, and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at Harvard University.

“I am pleased to resume my full time public service in Talent,” Milliman said.  “From what I have learned so far this is a very engaged community, with a leadership that is committed to creating and sustaining a high quality of life.  I hope that I can make a meaningful contribution to that effort.”

A native of Los Angeles, Milliman and his wife reside in Medford.