County Purchasing Director Pete Mendoza retires after 35 years of service

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A man in a dark suit and striped tie smiles in a formal portrait, standing beside a U.S. flag against a blue studio backdrop. — *San Bernardino County Purchasing Director Pete Mendoza leaves behind a legacy of leadership, innovation and dedicated public service to the county and the communities it serves.*

San Bernardino County Purchasing Department Director Pete Mendoza has retired, following 35 years of dedicated public service to the county.

Mendoza, who has led County Purchasing since 2021, leaves behind a legacy of operational excellence, innovation and cross-departmental collaboration. Over the course of his career, he played a critical role in strengthening county operations across human services, information technology and procurement, with lasting impacts on service delivery to residents.

“Pete Mendoza’s leadership and institutional knowledge have been invaluable to San Bernardino County,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe. “Over the course of his 35-year career, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving our residents and supporting county departments. We thank him for his exceptional service and wish him the very best in his retirement.”

Mendoza began his county career in 1991 with the Transitional Assistance Department as a bilingual eligibility worker trainee, while completing a course with the Probation Department. In 1995, he concurrently served as a volunteer associate probation officer, reflecting an early commitment to public safety and community service. He promoted through the ranks at Transitional Assistance, becoming a district manager in 2002 and deputy director in 2004.

He later transitioned to the county’s Human Services Information Technology & Support Division, where he served for nearly 13 years as a supervising business systems analyst III and business applications manager. In 2017, Mendoza was appointed chief of the Human Services Program Integrity Division, where he led critical compliance and accountability efforts. In 2021, following a competitive recruitment process, he was appointed director of the County Purchasing Department after serving as interim director.

Under Mendoza’s leadership, County Purchasing and Transitional Assistance achieved national recognition for excellence and performance, receiving multiple National Association of Counties Achievement Awards recognizing innovative county programs and services.

Mendoza also provided steady leadership during high-impact emergencies. He played a key role in the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring procurement systems supported continuity of emergency operations. During the 2023 winter storms, he directed the activation of the purchasing warehouse to support a countywide donations call center and coordinated the intake and distribution of essential goods to impacted residents.

Beyond emergency response, Mendoza advanced operational improvements within County Purchasing, including enhancements to mail and courier services and surplus property operations to increase efficiency. He also supported outreach efforts to expand access for small businesses seeking to become registered county vendors, strengthening local economic participation in county contracting.

“Pete is an experienced professional who, along with his team, has successfully kept the county well-equipped to face many challenges,” Rowe added. “I believe all of our residents will continue to benefit from Pete’s leadership.”

Mendoza’s leadership and commitment to professional development were also recognized internally. In 2005, he was honored by the County Administrative Office for his mentorship in the county’s Management & Leadership Academy, underscoring his role in developing future county leaders.

“I am deeply grateful to the Board of Supervisors, our county leadership and the many colleagues who have supported me throughout my career—because that support is what makes this work possible,” said Mendoza. “It has been a privilege to serve the residents of San Bernardino County. While the work can be challenging, staying focused on the people we serve and working together to find solutions has always made it worthwhile.”

With Mendoza’s retirement, the county will initiate recruitment efforts to identify his successor and ensure continuity in the leadership of County Purchasing, which provides procurement services, contract administration, vendor management and operational support to departments across the organization. In retirement, Mendoza looks forward to spending more time with his family and continuing to support his community in new and meaningful ways.

Additional County Update News – March 26, 2026