City manager finalist John O’Brien chats with a community member on June 11, 2025, at La Grande City Hall. Councilors offered O'Brien the role following his second interview on July 9, which he accepted two days later. (Isabella Crowley/The Observer, File)

John O’Brien to succeed Robert Strope, who is retiring this year

LA GRANDE — La Grande soon will have a new city manager.

After 17 years in the position, Robert Strope announced his plans to retire this fall. John O’Brien, who has more than 22 years of leadership experience in city management and public safety, will be his successor.

O’Brien accepted the position Friday, July 11, Strope said, after councilors unanimously voted to offer him the role following a second round interview earlier in the week.

GMP Consultants spearheaded the search process. The job posting elicited 27 candidates prior to the deadline, senior consultant Richard Meyers said, which resulted in four finalists. Community members had the opportunity to speak with all four candidates in June during a meet and greet.

Councilors conducted a second interview with O’Brien during an executive session on July 9 before reconvening into an open meeting where they approved him as their preferred candidate.

O’Brien holds a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. He began his public service career in 1992 in the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of sergeant. O’Brien went on to serve as a law enforcement supervisor and detective for agencies in Colorado for 10 years before transitioning into Army installation management.

He held key roles in Germany, Washington state and New Jersey. O’Brien has served as city strategic planning director, city operations director, and deputy to the garrison commander. In 2023, he was appointed chief of staff for the Walla Walla District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The offer letter included a starting annual salary of $138,225, which would increase to $145,168 after December. The council authorized Meyers to negotiate with O’Brien on the city’s behalf regarding the compensation package, so the signing salary may have differed slightly.

Meyers spoke with O’Brien during the July 9 meeting and communicated that he would like to start mid-August. The original plan was to have the new city manager begin in August with Strope remaining employed through October.

Strope previously said this timeline puts the incoming city manager in a good position and gives O’Brien the time necessary to get up to speed before tackling big tasks, such as the budget, council retreat or labor negotiations. (The city is in the middle of its three-year long labor contracts with unions and has adopted the 2025-26 fiscal year budget).