Keith W. Mars, AICP, serves as the Assistant Director of the Development Services Department for the City of Austin since June 2008, overseeing a broad portfolio of land development and community services. Mars has held various leadership roles, including Acting Assistant Director, Community Tree Preservation Division Manager, and City Arborist, where responsibilities ranged from managing teams of public servants to developing comprehensive urban forest plans. Mars began a professional journey in environmental planning and development management, previously working for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development. Mars holds a Master’s Degree in Forestry and Environmental Policy and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Biology from the University of Tennessee and Carson-Newman University, respectively, along with additional coursework in negotiation.