Valdez, Alaska (May 9, 2025) — The Valdez City Council has officially approved a contract with Nathan Duval as the new City Manager following a unanimous vote at its regular meeting this week.
Duval, who has served the city for the past seven years as Capital Facilities Director and later as Assistant City Manager and Interim City Manager, deeply understands the city’s operations, values, and opportunities. His appointment follows years of dedicated infrastructure and executive leadership service.
Originally from Fairbanks, Duval was born and raised in Alaska and has lived in various parts of the U.S. and abroad in Argentina. He first came to Valdez as a child, traveling with his grandparents to fish for silver salmon at Allison Point. These summer visits left a lasting impression and planted early roots in the community.
Duval’s background is in construction and construction management. In 2013, he moved to Valdez to work as a contractor for Houston Contracting, managing projects at the Valdez Marine Terminal. After a year of commuting from Fairbanks for work, Duval moved his family to Valdez. Since then, their family has grown, with five more children born in Valdez.
In 2017, Duval accepted a job with the City of Valdez as the Capital Facilities Director, overseeing major projects and infrastructure planning. In 2019, he was appointed Assistant City Manager under then-City Manager Mark Deter, gaining valuable experience in municipal government and the city’s daily operations.
“Nate has shown great dedication to our community and a clear vision for its future,” said Mayor Fleming. “He knows Valdez, understands how our local government operates, and is committed to serving the people who live here. The City Council is excited to support him in this new role.”
In accepting the role, Duval shared his vision for public service and continued collaboration: “I’m excited to continue working alongside the great staff at the city and doing my part to help the place we all call home be better than it was yesterday. I believe the city should be a true partner to the community— responsive, transparent, and service-driven. Valdez has so much potential, and we can achieve great things by working together. To me, public service means upholding our values of integrity, stewardship, innovation, and celebration while meeting the needs of our residents.”
Duval’s appointment is effective immediately.