South Bend Boss Back in Town

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South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg has returned home after serving for seven months with the U.S. Navy in Afghanistan. Deputy Mayor Mark Neal, who has been handling the mayor's day-to-day responsibilities since late February, will return to the private sector when the mayor resumes his role next month. Neal says Buttigieg's first stops will likely be community meetings as well as “a couple of favorite restaurants.” Neal's position was created in anticipation of the mayor's service.

Buttigieg, a lieutenant in the Navy, worked with a counterterrorism unit focusing on tracking drugs, money and terror activities.

South Bend, Ind. — South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg is set to return home tonight, Thursday, September 25, after seven months serving with the U.S. Navy in Afghanistan. He is scheduled to fly into South Bend International Airport at 9:35 pm. Members of the public wishing to welcome him home in person are invited to gather at the airport on Concourse A, and Mayor Buttigieg will speak briefly after arriving. A Navy lieutenant, Mayor Buttigieg worked as an intelligence officer in Afghanistan, assigned to a counterterrorism unit focusing on the intersection of drugs, finance and terrorism.

Mayor Buttigieg will spend the next week settling back into life in South Bend, connecting with family and friends, and visiting Naval Station Great Lakes to complete final administrative procedures to end his deployment. He will return to work on Monday, October 6, relieving Deputy Mayor Mark Neal, who has been holding the authorities of the office during Mayor Buttigieg's absence.

“It has been an honor to work on behalf of the residents of South Bend,” Deputy Mayor Neal says. “I'm proud that we have maintained the administration's momentum in Mayor Pete’s absence and I join all South Bend residents in thanking him for his service and welcoming him home.”

Mayor Buttigieg was sworn in as South Bend’s 32nd mayor on January 1, 2012.

Source: City of South Bend