About R. Paul Ortiz

After serving our country for 30 years, Paul Ortiz is ready to serve our County.

Paul Ortiz has led a life devoted to the service of his country, community, and family.  He is a long-time resident of Stafford who brings integrity, leadership skills, and managerial abilities to his campaign for Supervisor.  Learn a little about Paul and you will see why those who know him are so enthusiastic about his campaign.

The Ortiz family enjoys some silly holiday fun together.

Stafford County Family Roots

R. Paul Ortiz (retired, USMC) first moved to Stafford in the 1970’s as a young marine.  He and his wife of 27 years raised their family in the Aquia Harbour community.  Their two children graduated from Brooke Point High School, helping to reinforce Paul staunch support of quality public education.

Paul's wife, Michelle, is a nurse at Dewitt Army Community Hospital, Fort Belvoir. For 15 years, she was a small business owner, operating a custom framing business.  Their son, Lieutenant Junior Grade Paul Robert Ortiz, graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2007, and is currently serving overseas in an undisclosed location. Their daughter, Stephanie Ortiz, graduated from the Virginia Military Institute this year, and works as a ranger for the United States Park Service.

Coaching soccer was one of Paul's many community service efforts.  

Community Service 

Despite a demanding work schedule, Paul has always made time for volunteer community service. He served for years as an Assistant Boy Scout Master for the William of York Church.  He coached youth groups in baseball, basketball and soccer.  He was a docent at the National Marine Corps Museum in Quantico. Paul volunteers for numerous veteran projects, recently escorting World War II veterans to Reading, PA  for a reunion, and is assisting in the organization of a World War II Marine Corps Division reunion to be held in 2010.

A 30-year career in the military included a visit to the chilly climate of Moscow's Red Square and service in the desert heat of Iraq.

Marine Corps Service

Paul has a distinguished 30-year career in the United States Marine Corps.  He was awarded two Legion of Merit awards, a Joint Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, a navy Commendation medal and a Navy Achievement Medal. His Marine Corps work was varied and including a period as Program Manager for Radars and Command and Control Systems during which he fielded Unit Operation Centers in Fallujah and Al Asad, Iraq.

Ortiz makes a presentation.

Management Experience

During his long career with the Marines, Paul developed extensive management and leadership skills he hopes to apply to helping Stafford government operate more effectively and efficiently.  For example, Paul developed an assessment process to analyze the fiscal and programmatic state of the Marine Corps, identifying significant cost savings and developing fiscal priorities. He also enhanced reporting procedures, improved acquisition timelines, and designed training, logistics and testing criteria.

Paul’s management responsibilities in the Marines included personnel administration, unit training, facilities maintenance, equipment maintenance, recruiting, civilian relations, and budgeting. He directed executive staffs in the areas of human resources, legal, budget formulation and execution, public affairs, safety, operations, and logistics. He also advocated on behalf of the Marine Corps before the Department of Defense and the U.S. Congress.

After serving for thirty years, Paul retired in 2005 from the United States Marine Corps. Currently, he is a civilian Program Manager Competency Lead for Marine Corps System Command, located at Quantico Marine Corps Base. In this capacity, Paul is responsible for working with members of the business and defense communities to develop simple, rapid and cost-effective responses to military equipment needs, in order to ensure that America’s fighting forces get the resources they need to conduct successful missions. Paul’s other civilian work experience includes employment as a Program Lead in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security and a Manager for Irving Bank Trust.

Education

Paul is a graduate of Pepperdine University, where he obtained an MA in Management. He also earned an MS in Computer Systems from the Naval Postgraduate School, and an MS in National Security Strategy from the Naval  War College of the National Defense University.  Paul has an undergraduate BS in Criminal Justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York.

One of Paul's recent photographs is of a Great Blue Heron in flight on the Potomac River.

Hobbies

Paul loves the outdoors, kayaking, and photography.  Sometimes he manages to combine all three, such as when he takes photographs while kayaking on nearby waterways.

R. Paul Ortiz is a retired marine.  Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the US Marines Corps  or the Department of Defense.