Bruce Bender has served as the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Missoula since July 2005. Before becoming Chief Administrative Officer, Bruce was in the Public Works Department with the City of Missoula for 22 years, 10 of those as Director, and before that he was a City Engineer. Bruce also worked in the Public Works Department for the City of Helena for five years.

Bruce has been a member of the International City / County Management Association (ICMA) for two years and the American Public Works Association (APWA) for 19 years, holding positions such as Rocky Mountain Chapter President and winning awards such as Outstanding Chapter Member. He has also been an International Public Works Congress Delegate for 12 years.

Bruce has the following degrees from Montana State University

• BS in Chemical Engineering
• MS in Public Administration
• BS in Psychology