DDEC deputy secretary tapped to lead Roosevelt Roads redevelopment

Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi, back row center, has extensive experience in leadership positions within the public sector.

By THE STAR STAFF

Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) Secretary Sebastián Negrón Reichard, who is also chairman of Roosevelt Roads Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) board of directors, announced on Tuesday the appointment of Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi as the LRA’s new executive director.

Negrón Reichard emphasized that the appointee’s solid track record in public administration, the management of federal funds, and the execution of strategic projects will be crucial in driving the continuity and expansion of the transformation underway at the former U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads and the Municipality of Ceiba. Ríos Pierluisi will continue to serve concurrently as DDEC deputy secretary, thereby strengthening the integration between public policy on economic development and the investment projects being carried out at Roosevelt Roads, the DDEC secretary said.

Negrón Reichard said further that Ríos Pierluisi’s appointment represents a firm step toward consolidating the government’s strategic vision for Roosevelt Roads and the eastern region of Puerto Rico. He added that the appointee’s experience leading complex operations, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and implementing administrative reforms makes him the ideal candidate to lead the new phase. He said the appointment was unanimously ratified by the board of directors, which is confident that Ríos Pierluisi’s leadership will allow for continued acceleration of the economic development that Puerto Rico and the Ceiba region need.

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón, who recommended Ríos Pierluisi for his capabilities and commitment to public service, noted that Roosevelt Roads is one of the projects with the greatest potential for Puerto Rico, with the capacity to attract investment, create jobs, boost new industries, and significantly transform the region. She also stressed that her administration has an unequivocal commitment to ensuring that economic development reaches all communities, especially in areas requiring priority attention, such as Ceiba.

Ríos Pierluisi has extensive experience in leadership positions within the public sector. He has served in key roles at DDEC and the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, where he has overseen complex operations, economic development strategies, administrative restructuring processes, management of federal funds, and negotiations with local and international companies. His legal background, which includes directing the DDEC Legal Division and advising on legislative and regulatory matters, adds a comprehensive perspective to the design and execution of economic development projects, Negrón Reichard noted.

Upon his appointment, Ríos Pierluisi expressed his commitment to working alongside the community, the private sector, and government agencies to ensure Roosevelt Roads continues to develop as an engine of investment, jobs and opportunities. He emphasized that his focus will be on executing with discipline, efficiency, and a strategic vision to contribute to the well-being of the eastern region and the economic development of Puerto Rico as a whole.