Institutional
operations
Aligning people, resources, and essential services around institutional priorities. Building accountable teams and meaningful performance systems.
THE EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE
Leading the systems
that move education
forward.
The people. The places. The systems behind learning. An executive perspective on building institutions that work.
Dr. J. Jacob MartinezEducational operations executive · U.S. Marine Corps veteran
STRATEGY INTO ACTION.MISSION INTO IMPACT.
$810MVoter-approved bond authority stewarded
$230M+Capital portfolio directed
8Departments united by one educational mission
20 yearsLeadership across complex environments
CURRENT LEADERSHIP SCOPE
- Capital Development & Planning
- Facilities Maintenance & Operations
- Transportation & Fleet
- Security & Emergency Management
- Technology
- School Nutrition
- Athletics
- Operations Support Services
01 / THE PERSPECTIVE
Strong institutions.
Intentional leadership.
A school’s mission comes to life through the people, places, and services that make learning possible.
Dr. Martinez leads at the intersection of educational purpose and operational responsibility. His experience spans public education, construction, commercial nuclear infrastructure, and military service, bringing an owner’s perspective to capital investment and a service-centered approach to institutional leadership.
As Assistant Superintendent of Operations at Petersburg City Public Schools, he leads eight departments encompassing capital development, facilities, transportation, security, technology, school nutrition, athletics, and operations support. Previously, he served as Chief Operations Officer for Chula Vista Elementary School District in California.
His doctoral research at San Diego State University examines active shooter preparedness in school safety plans. His professional focus connects strategy, governance, and day-to-day execution, with relevance for K–12 systems and higher education institutions.
Read the executive résumé ↗Ed.D. · MBA · M.Eng. · PMP
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt · CASH School Facilities Leadership Academy
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt · CASH School Facilities Leadership Academy
AN INTEGRATED LEADERSHIP APPROACH
Institutional
Capital development
& stewardship
Connecting long-range planning, responsible investment, project delivery, and the realities of operating educational facilities.
Safety, readiness
& applied research
Bringing preparation, cross-functional coordination, and research-informed judgment to institutional safety and resilience.
02 / LEADERSHIP IN PRACTICE
Beyond the office.
Into the work.
Walk the sites. Meet the responsibilities. See the work through a district-produced profile of Dr. Martinez during his tenure as Chief Operations Officer at Chula Vista Elementary School District.
A CVESD day-in-the-life feature, presented in its original context.
Watch on YouTube ↗
03 / SELECTED WORK
Places that serve.
Investments that last.
A selected portfolio of learning environments and essential infrastructure. Explore the owner’s role, the delivery priorities, and the institutional purpose behind each investment.
PETERSBURG, VIRGINIAWalnut Hill
Elementary SchoolPETERSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS● PLANNING & DESIGN
Elementary SchoolPETERSBURG CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS● PLANNING & DESIGN
CURRENT CAPITAL LEADERSHIP
Leading the work.
Building the future.
Project executive for the Walnut Hill Elementary School replacement, advancing procurement, planning, and coordination for a new learning environment.
Explore the initiative ＋
Leadership role. Led PPEA design-build procurement through public engagement, Board selection, and a negotiated Interim Agreement, advancing the project to design kickoff.
Executive focus. Funding strategy, intergovernmental coordination, swing-space planning, and transparent capital reporting.
Status. Ongoing project; scope, budget, and schedule remain subject to the district’s planning and approval process.
District capital project updates ↗
01 / 05 · Campus entrance
SIGNATURE PROJECT · CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA
Sonia Sotomayor
Elementary School
Delivering through complexity. Protecting the commitment to students.
$77M project value97,000 SF new construction
16rain days planned
41rain days experienced
The project encountered 25 more rain days than planned, adding pressure to an already demanding construction management, multi-prime delivery. The school was completed on schedule and within budget.
Inside the leadership challenge ＋
The challenge
Delivering a major new school through multiple prime contracts required close coordination across trades, design professionals, inspection, and district stakeholders. Rainfall substantially exceeded the schedule allowance, making timely decisions and coordinated field solutions essential.
The owner’s role
Dr. Martinez worked closely with field superintendents, foremen, the construction management team, and the Division of the State Architect project inspector, while maintaining communication with the architect and other stakeholders. His focus was on aligning field conditions, schedule priorities, and the district’s expectations so that emerging issues could be addressed collaboratively.
Cost and schedule discipline
Collaborative problem-solving included reviewing schedule implications and value-engineering options with the project team. The owner’s priorities remained consistent: maintain progress, manage cost, and preserve the educational purpose and required quality of the finished school.
The outcome
A completed 97,000-square-foot learning environment, delivered on schedule and within the $77 million project budget despite the additional rain days. The experience reflects the importance of active owner involvement, field relationships, and clear communication in complex capital delivery.
Explore the school on video ↗
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA · COMPLETED
Fahari L. Jeffers
Elementary School
$35.1M project value68,023 SF learning environment
Explore the project ＋
Leadership role. Oversaw school construction as part of the district’s capital program, with attention to compliance, coordination, sustainable practices, and owner objectives.
Result. Delivered on time and under budget.
Architect’s project profile ↗Project photographs supplied by Dr. Martinez. Additional project information: Ruhnau Clarke Architects.
SOLAR & MICROGRID PROGRAM18,050PANELS. ONE LONG-TERM VISION.46 SCHOOLS + 2 SUPPORT SITES
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA · COMPLETED
Energy resilience.
Financial stewardship.
$32M program investment40% energy-cost reduction
Explore the program ＋
Leadership role. Directed the district solar and microgrid program, connecting capital investment with energy savings and operational resilience.
Scale. 18,050 panels across 46 schools and two support locations. The program included a microgrid at the Education Service and Support Center.
Read the project announcement ↗
CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA · COMPLETED
Maxwell
Transportation Center
$16M facility investment50 schools district served
Explore the project ＋
Leadership role. Delivered a transportation and fleet maintenance facility supporting the operational needs of a large elementary school district.
Purpose. Strengthen the infrastructure behind safe, reliable transportation and fleet maintenance.
Architect’s project profile ↗Project imagery: Ruhnau Clarke Architects project portfolio.
04 / THE PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
Perspective earned
through experience.
Select a milestone to explore the experience behind the perspective.
2025 — PRESENT · Petersburg City Public Schools
Cabinet-level leadership.
Division-wide impact.
Assistant Superintendent of Operations
Leading eight departments around one educational mission: reliable services, safe campuses, and responsible capital investment.
Capital planning · Institutional readiness · Operational performance
PERSPECTIVE / 018departments led
Petersburg City Public Schools
2022 — 2025 · Chula Vista Elementary School District
Cabinet-level district
leadership at scale.
Chief Operations Officer
Connecting essential services and capital stewardship across a 50-school district, with $210 million in departmental budgets and $810 million in voter-approved bond authority.
$230M+ capital portfolio · Bond governance · Enterprise operations
PERSPECTIVE / 0250schools served
Chula Vista Elementary School District
2015 — 2022 · Cal Burton Inc.
From opportunity
to execution.
Director, Business Development and Construction Operations
Led federal contracting strategy, procurement, construction logistics, and cross-functional delivery.
Federal contracting · Procurement · Construction operations
PERSPECTIVE / 032015–22construction leadership
Cal Burton Inc.
2007 — 2013 · Southern California Edison · San Onofre
Discipline in a
critical environment.
Senior Project Manager, Nuclear Construction and Maintenance
Led infrastructure and maintenance work within a regulated nuclear environment, emphasizing procedure adherence, human performance, and operational discipline.
Nuclear construction · Maintenance · Human performance
PERSPECTIVE / 042007–13critical infrastructure
Southern California Edison · San Onofre
1995 — 2003 · United States Marine Corps
A foundation
of service.
Sergeant of Marines [NCOIC]
Experience in avionics, weapon systems, military intelligence, reconnaissance, operational readiness, logistics, and team leadership. Honorably discharged.
Avionics · Readiness · Team leadership
PERSPECTIVE / 051995–03military service
United States Marine Corps
05 / RESEARCH & PERSPECTIVE
The work informs
the perspective.
Exploring the decisions, responsibilities, and systems that shape educational institutions.
THE RESEARCH FEATURE · SDSU · 2026
Analyzing Active Shooter Preparedness in California Schools
A Critical Examination of School Safety Plans and Their Alignment with State Guidelines.
Research examining the relationship between documented school safety planning and substantive preparedness.
View dissertation ↗PROFESSIONAL COMMENTARY · SERIES
The Owner’s Side
Construction Management 101 for Education Leaders
An owner-focused perspective on capital decisions for superintendents, presidents, chancellors, and governing boards.
Explore my writing on LinkedIn ↗SELECTED PROFESSIONAL WRITING
Operations is leadership.
- Operations Is Leadership: Redefining the Executive Table in Public Education
- The Invisible Backbone of School Districts: Why Operations Leadership Matters
- From the Boiler Room to the Board Room: Reframing the Role of School Operations Leaders
- Equity Is Operational: Why School Systems Must Align Resources Before They Can Close Gaps
Select a title to read the full article on LinkedIn.
06 / SPEAKING & ENGAGEMENT
Meaningful dialogue.
Practical perspective.
An informed voice on the decisions education leaders face.
For education leaders, governing boards, and professional organizations seeking an experienced perspective on institutional operations and capital stewardship.
- Operations as executive leadership
- The owner’s role in educational capital projects
- School safety: connecting plans with preparedness
- Building organizational accountability and capacity
THE PERSON BEHIND THE WORK
Service. Family.
The next generation.
Military service, athletics, mentorship, and fatherhood are part of Dr. Martinez’s story. Alongside his professional experience, they provide a personal connection to the people and communities educational institutions serve.
Preparation, responsibility, and developing others are recurring threads in his approach to leadership.
LET’S CONNECT
The next conversation
could move something forward.
Executive opportunities. Speaking engagements. Advisory conversations.
dr.jjacobmartinez@gmail.com ↗