HMEPS Board

Mr. Newman graduated from the University of Houston in 1977 with degrees in Social Science Teacher Education and Sociology. Prior to attending college, he served honorably in the United States Air Force and is a Vietnam veteran.

Mr. Newman is a 32-year city employee and was first elected to the HMEPS Board in 1992. He was the first African American to be elected to the Board and served in an active employee Trustee position for more than 16 years. He was also the first African American to serve as Chairman of the HMEPS Board. He currently serves as an elected Retiree Trustee and has over 20 years of experience on the HMEPS Board and chaired or served on numerous committees such as Disability, Personnel & Procedures, External Affairs and Audit. Rod has completed Certified Trustee Training offered by TEXPERS and has received training in finance, ethics, fiduciary responsibilities, Pension Law and Actuarial science.

He also serves on the Boards of the Association of Retired Houston Municipal Employees (ARHME), the Houston Employee Relief Organization (HERO), and the Houston Metropolitan Federal Credit Union (HMFCU).

In his personal life, he is married and the father of two lovely children and is also actively involved in school, church and community activities.