Meet Shafer Gaston:
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Shafer Gaston first came to Saratoga Springs as a Naval Officer in 2006. He was stationed here twice, and his kids liked the city so much they all decided to be born in the 12866 zip code. After retiring from the submarine force in 2016, he moved back to Saratoga Springs and took a role at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory as a Project Manager. Since that time, he was worked as a Project Manager, a Nuclear Operations Engineer, and is currently an Engineering Manager at Taylor Corporation, overseeing facility upkeep, safety, and capital expenditures at the Amsterdam Printing facility.
Since settling in Saratoga he has also taken on numerous volunteer roles, ranging from PTA Treasurer to professional society board member, and has advocated with both the city and the school district for rational, fact-based governance and accountability.
His professional qualifications include a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems from Boston University, a Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University, and a Master of Business Administration from Auburn University. He is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and is certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute. In addition to his role as an Engineering Manager, he serves on the board of the Upstate New York Project Management Institute and the Saratoga Springs Zoning Board of Appeals. He is ready and able to lead the Finance Department and represent the interests of the people at the City Council table in 2026.