On July 28, Julián Castro was sworn in as the 16th secretary of HUD. In this role, Secretary Castro will oversee 8,000 employees and a budget of $46 billion.

Before HUD, Castro served as mayor of the City of San Antonio. During his tenure, he became known as a national leader in urban development. In 2010, the city launched the “Decade of Downtown,” an initiative to spark investment in San Antonio’s center city and older neighborhoods. This effort has attracted $350 million in private sector investment, which will produce more than 2,400 housing units by the end of 2014.

In addition, San Antonio’s East Side is the only neighborhood in America that has received funding to implement major projects under three key Obama administration revitalization initiatives: Choice Neighborhoods, Promise Neighborhoods, and the Byrne Criminal Justice Program.

Utilizing an evidence-based management style, Secretary Castro has charged the Department with one goal: giving every person, regardless of his or her station in life, new opportunities to thrive.

“Julián is a proven leader, a champion for safe, affordable housing, and strong, sustainable neighborhoods,” said President Obama after Castro’s confirmation. “I know that together with the dedicated professionals at HUD, Julián will help build on the progress we’ve made battling back from the Great Recession—rebuilding our housing market, reducing homelessness among veterans, and connecting neighborhoods with good schools and good jobs that help our citizens succeed.”