Gary Lee Moore was raised in Lynwood, California and graduated from Lynwood High School. Moore graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. Moore completed the UCLA Anderson School of Management's Executive Organizational Leadership Program. Moore also completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government course at Harvard Kennedy School. Moore was registered as both a Professional Civil and Mechanical Engineer in California.
Moore joined the Bureau of Engineering in July 1985 as a Mechanical Engineering Assistant. Moore met his wife Chinsook Kim Moore, while both were working for the Bureau of Engineering.
Moore was appointed as City Engineer in 2003 and served for 19 years in that position. His key accomplishments included:
- Led the completion of the $588 million Sixth Street Viaduct, the largest bridge project in the history of Los Angeles;
- The completion of 2,600 projects totaling $7 billion;
- Notable projects including: the Police Administration Building; the Griffith Observatory Renovation and Expansion Project; 2,845 beds of interim housing for those experiencing homelessness; 30 bridge projects; 22 new fire stations and facilities; 18 new libraries; 15 new police stations and facilities; 15 new swimming pools; 200 park projects; 46 Proposition O projects; 7 new animal services centers; 7 new Los Angeles Zoo exhibits; renovation of the UNESCO World Heritage historic Hollyhock House; 492 projects improving the processes of the four water reclamation plants within the City; 814 miles of sewer repairs; 125 miles of sidewalk repairs under the Sidewalk Repair Program; the Los Angeles Department of Transportation Bus Maintenance Facility; the Wilshire Boulevard Bus Rapid Transit; and the Santa Monica Boulevard Transit Parkway;
- The annual issuance of 20,000 private development permits;
- Led the 2007 Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan;
- Champion of equity. Under his leadership, the Bureau of Engineering increased the number of women engineers by 109 percent between 2013 and 2018, and received the WTS-LA Employer of the Year Award in 2018 and the Mayor’s Gender Equity Award in 2019;
- Showed a steadfast dedication and commitment to the City’s efforts to increase the inclusion of minority-owned, women-owned, and small business enterprises in the City of Los Angeles whether it be construction, personal services, or the piloting of Community Level Contracting;
- Initiated a bureau-wide Mentorship Program in 2015 and served as a mentor each year, emphasizing the importance of transferring knowledge and leading the next generation;
- Leader in incorporating advances in sustainable design, construction, and operation technologies that reflect the highest levels of environmental quality and natural resource stewardship. Under his leadership, the Bureau of Engineering delivered 62 projects certified according to the US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards and seven projects certified according to the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure’s Envision rating system;
- Received numerous leadership awards, he authored and co-authored many research papers, and presented his work at a wide variety of professional conferences;
- Spearheaded the California Multi-Agency Capital Improvement Project Benchmarking Study, a collaborative effort that involves the sharing of best practices and data between several major cities in California since 2001;
- Served on several civic and professional boards, including as a Board member with WTS-LA, Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, and the Los Angeles City General Managers Association for over 10 years;
- In his last year as City Engineer Moore led a world-class organization of 955 engineers, architects, surveyors and support staff with an annual operating budget of $200 million
Upon his retirement, the Mayor and members of the Los Angeles City Council presented a resolution commending Moore for his integrity, honesty, and dedication. They also thanked Moore for his exceptional work ethic in making the City a better, more resilient, and safer place in which to live, work, and visit. Gary Lee Moore retired in 2022 after 37 years of dedicated service to the residents of the City of Los Angeles.