Frank Fairbanks was appointed city manager by the Phoenix City Council in April 1990. He is responsible to the Mayor and City Council for the day-to-day management and operation of the city. He also works closely with the Mayor and City Council, helping them formulate objectives and programs.

Fairbanks joined the city in 1972 and has served as a management assistant, executive assistant to the city manager and assistant city manager. During that time, he helped develop programs for improved citizen participation, employee productivity, organizational development, performance measurement and the use of advanced technology.

In April 2005, Fairbanks was presented with the National Public Service Award, the highest award given for distinction in public service by the American Society for Public Administration and the National Public Academy of Public Administration. He was recognized for his work in developing e-government, achieving an AAA excise tax revenue bond rating from Standard and Poor's and his membership on local business and community boards.

American City and County magazine selected Fairbanks as the "1994 Municipal Leader" of the year. That same year, Governing magazine named him the "Public Official of the Year." While Mr. Fairbanks has been city manager, Phoenix won an international competition to be named "Best Run City in the World" by the Bertelsmann Foundation in Germany.

Fairbanks says, "The key to Phoenix's success is our outstanding employees and the tremendous cooperation that exists between the Mayor and City Council, the city staff and the community."

Prior to working with the city, he worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Office of the President of Costa Rica. Fairbanks has a bachelor of science degree in finance from Loyola University in Los Angeles and a master's in business administration from the University of California Los Angeles.

Fairbanks is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. He served as chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of the International City/County Management Association and is active in Public Technology Incorporated - an organization which develops technological solutions to urban problems.