Ralph Hicks is manager of the Real Property Development and Management Group and is responsible for Metropolitan’s property holdings and right of ways, which exceed 170,000 acres.

He leads all real estate services including property and right-of-way management, appraisals and acquisitions, and annexations as well as development and management of the Metropolitan’s recreational facilities and programs.

Hicks has 20 years of experience in real estate development and management.  He has managed an array of projects including the entitlement and master planning for the redevelopment of the San Diego waterfront.

As the former Director of Land Use and Planning for the Port of San Diego, Hicks led the creation of the new San Diego waterfront and headed the redevelopment of the San Diego International Airport and the Port’s marine and cruise ship terminals, hotels and retail facilities. Earlier in his career, he was one of the leaders in entitling the All-American Oil Pipeline, which spanned 1,700 miles from California to Texas. 

Most recently, he served as the Director of Economic Development for the Port of Los Angeles  where he led the developer community in rebuilding the L.A waterfront and he laid the foundation for starting the maritimare clean tech industry

Hicks is a member of the California Bar and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco and his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara.