Each year, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, the United States celebrates the culture, heritage and contributions of Hispanic-American citizens.
Juan Ortiz, chief engineer for the Precision Strike Weapons Program Office (PMA 201) here at Patuxent River, has made professional contributions to this country for more than 20 years, while investing in the next generation of engineers.
A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Ortiz often travels back to his alma mater to recruit graduating engineers to ensure they are well informed as they weigh career choices in the private and public sectors.
“I’m excited to share the opportunities my career has afforded me,” he said. “I tell them it is technically challenging and stimulating, since you’re working at the edge of technology, and in many cases, developing brand-new technology to meet the increasing requirements that military efforts demand.”
Ortiz said one of his greatest accomplishments is mentoring and shaping upcoming engineers by teaching them how to find solutions to different systems and technical challenges, while helping them navigate their way through career progression.
“As an enthusiastic leader with an uncanny ability to recognize up-and-coming talent, Juan’s contribution to the warfighter goes beyond his role as the chief engineer here,” said Capt. Carl Chebi, PMA-201’s program manager. “His personal investment in his people and his passion for delivering capability to the warfighter make him a great asset to the Navy.”
The son of two educators, Ortiz’s knack for teaching seems almost genetic. He currently mentors 12 engineers throughout NAVAIR and has been a role model for more than 20 throughout his career.
“Juan’s been a great mentor and has taught me about upholding technical discipline while at the same time tailoring the engineering requirements for every situation,” said Greg Hein, International Programs class desk for PMA-201. “He is uncompromising in his requirement for quality, but is always available to provide guidance and help you get to where you need to go.”
At PMA-201, Ortiz directs the efforts of more than 500 engineering work-hours across 25 geographically diverse government support activities and 26 industry partners. He also provides engineering oversight and guidance to an engineering staff supporting more than $7 billion across the fiscal year defense plan.
“The weapon systems and components under my direction i
