October 23, 2023
Public Safety Personnel Retirement System
State of Arizona
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Christian Palmer
Phone: 602-296-3736
Erin Higbee named PSPRS assistant administrator
Admin Townsend: ASRS chief financial officer “great hire” for agency
ARIZONA – The Public Safety Personnel Retirement System named Erin Higbee as assistant administrator of the system, which provides retirement benefits to the state’s first responders, corrections officers, judges and elected officials.
Prior to her hiring at PSPRS, Higbee served as the assistant director of the financial services division and chief financial officer of the Arizona State Retirement System since 2013. Higbee also spent years supervising audits for two private sector firms prior to her work with the state of Arizona.
“We’re thrilled to bring in somebody of Ms. Higbee’s caliber into PSPRS management,” said Administrator Mike Townsend. “She brings immediate expertise from managing the finances of the state’s largest pension for 10 years and makes an outstanding addition to our team that we are proud to share with our stakeholders.”
At ASRS, Higbee, a certified public accountant and certified government financial manager, managed teams charged with retiree benefits distribution, member and employer contributions, investment operations, service purchases, health insurance supplements and financial reporting.
“Coming to PSPRS is an opportunity I could not pass up,” Higbee said. “To work at a dynamic agency, intently focused on being the best retirement system for the benefit of their stakeholders is something I am proud to be a part of.”
Higbee holds degrees in business administration, accounting, and political science from San Diego State University and a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on finance from Grand Canyon University.
The PSPRS trust combined with the Corrections Officers Retirement Plan and the Elected Officials Retirement Plan is valued at roughly $20 billion. The system collectively provides retirement, disability and survivor benefits to approximately 60,000 retired and active members.
PSPRS is governed by a nine-member board consisting of four members of PSPRS-managed retirement plans and five civilians that meet stringent requirements for financial, investment and business expertise.
