The United States–Mexico Chamber of Commerce (USMCOC) is proud to announce that Maj. Gen. Albert C. Zapanta (USA-Ret.), President and CEO of the Chamber, was elected Mayor of the City of Irving, Texas, in the general election held on May 2, 2026. Mayor Zapanta was officially sworn into office during a special City Council meeting on May 13, 2026.

Mayor Zapanta secured more than 67% of the vote and will serve a three-year term. Prior to his election as Mayor, he served three terms representing District 6 on the Irving City Council.

Throughout his years of public service, Mayor Zapanta has served on numerous city boards and committees in the City of Irving, including Planning and Zoning, Audit and Finance Committee, Transportation and Natural Resources Committee, Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, Irving Flood Control District, and Sister Cities program. Before joining the City Council, he also served on the Human Relations Committee, the Charter Review Committee, the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board, and was Chairman of Las Colinas Association.

In addition to his public service, Mayor Zapanta has had a distinguished career in business and international affairs. As President and CEO of the United States–Mexico Chamber of Commerce, he leads a binational organization with regional offices throughout the United States and Mexico dedicated to strengthening trade and economic cooperation between both countries.

Mayor Zapanta is also a retired Major General of the United States Army. His military honors include the Silver Star, five Bronze Stars for Valor, the Purple Heart, and numerous additional awards for his service during the Vietnam War era and subsequent military operations, including Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Somalia, and Haiti.

Over the course of his career, Mayor Zapanta has held several Presidential appointments, including White House Fellow with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Management and Administration. He has also served on advisory committees related to international trade, technology, and national defense policy, and was appointed by U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld, appointed Gen. Zapanta as Chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB).

Most recently, he served as Chairman of the Inter-American Defense Board and is currently Chairman of the Greater Dallas Veterans Foundation.

Mayor Zapanta holds degrees in Industrial Psychology and Public Administration and completed doctoral studies in International Political Economics at the University of Southern California. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School and the Inter-American Defense College at the National War College in Washington, D.C.

“Serving as Mayor of Irving and leading the United States–Mexico Chamber of Commerce are responsibilities that complement one another in many ways. Both roles are centered on building strong relationships, creating economic opportunity, supporting businesses, and ensuring our communities remain competitive in an increasingly interconnected North American economy. Irving’s diversity, international business presence, and strategic location make it uniquely positioned to benefit from stronger cross-border partnerships, investment, and innovation. I look forward to continuing to serve both our local community and the broader U.S.–Mexico business relationship with the same commitment to collaboration and growth,” said Mayor Zapanta.

Mayor Zapanta and his wife, Rochelle, have been married since 1970 and have three children.

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For more information, please contact

Gabriela Kenny, VP of Administration and Communications

(469) 567-0923 / gabriela.kenny@usmcoc.org